CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Congestion Charge

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on congestion (a) charges and (b) penalty charge notices by the Department since the commencement of the congestion charging scheme.

Richard Caborn: The only cars used by the department are provided by the Government Car and Despatch Service, and it is that organisation that deals with such issues.

Departmental Policies (Essex)

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maldon and East Chelmsford constituency, the effects on Maldon and East Chelmsford of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Maldon and East Chelmsford since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving four School Sport Co-ordinators and 23 primary Link teachers is based at great Baddow High School in Maldon and East Chelmsford. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Maldon and East Chelmsford have benefited from 13 Sport England lottery grants totalling £3,018,773, including two awards worth £504,000 in total from the £108 million investment in innovative sports facilities through the Active England programme.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England East grants increased from £4.7 million to £7.7 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in the East of England will be £8.3 million. Maldon and East Chelmsford has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations andindividuals, including Aldeburgh productions and Essexdance.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Maldon and East Chelmsford will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Maldon and East Chelmsford also benefits from museums initiatives such as Renaissance East of England whereby it's Hub partner Colchester Museums will provide expertise and fund 60 per cent. of a new initiative to improve access and build new local audiences.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in the Maldon and East Chelmsford area. The UK Film Council has supported a number of film-related enterprises in the Chelmsford area—including £20,000 for a new feature film production set and filmed in Essex; £8,000 funding to the Boreham Millennium Trust to support moving image education and £2,859 to Chelmsford Film Club to enable local audiences to view a wider choice of films.
	The feature film 'The Lawless Heart' was set in and filmed in Maldon, directed by two local filmmakers. Thefilm, which received £200,000 from the UK Film Council's Interim Production Fund, was released in 2001 to international acclaim.
	Many other productions have been filmed in and around Maldon and East Chelmsford, such as the BBC's 'The Murder Game'; Granada's 'Medieval Monarchs' and the feature film 'Rules of the Game'.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Maldon and East Chelmsford with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,205.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Maldon and East Chelmsford, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Maldon and East Chelmsford has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including the East of England Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Maldon and East Chelmsford.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £647,014 to buildings and organisations in Maldon and East Chelmsford since 2 May 1997, including:
	
		
			 Building/organisation Amount (£) 
		
		
			 St. Mary's redundant Church, Mundon 45,229 
			 St. Leonard, Southminster 4,113 
			 St. Mary the Virgin, Woodham Ferrers 8,000 
			 St. Nicholas, Tillingham 152,400 
			 Creeksea Place, Burnham-on-Crouch 23,272 
			 St. Nicholas, Little Braxted 53,000 
			 Maldon District Council: Southminster Heritage  Regeneration scheme 45,000 
			 Maldon District Council: Maldon Conservation  Area Partnership Scheme 316,000 
		
	
	In common with all of those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Maldon and East Chelmsford constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. Essex county council has recognised this value and has undertaken various initiatives such as the ASK CHRIS project to encourage reading and lending across the county's public libraries. The project received a £67,000 award from the DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 2000–01.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Maldon and East Chelmsford has benefited from 169 awards totalling over £8.9 million. Of these, 21 awards worth over £1.7 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies (Haltemprice and Howden)

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Haltemprice and Howden constituency, the effects on Haltemprice and Howden of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Haltemprice and Howden since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. There is currently a school sport partnership involving one School Sport Co-ordinator and one Primary Link teacher in Haltemprice and Howden. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Haltemprice and Howden have benefited from five Sport England lottery grants totalling £351,449.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England Yorkshire and the Humber grants increased from £6.7 million to £21.3 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England Yorkshire and the Humber investment in regularly funded organisations will be £23.4 million. Haltemprice and Howden has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including Word Quake, a rural literature development agency that works throughout libraries in East Riding.
	Young people in Haltemprice and Howden benefit from the Humber Youth Music Action Zone, known as Music4U. The Action Zone covers the East Riding of Yorkshire council, Hull city council, North East Lincolnshire council and North Lincolnshire council and is co-ordinated by the National Centre for Early Music. Music4U was set up in September 2001 and has so far been awarded three grants totalling over £760,000. It has already reached over 15,000 children and young people, 85 per cent. of whom were first-time participants.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Haltemprice and Howden will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Haltemprice and Howden with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,615.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new rear's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Haltemprice and Howden, a greater say in regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Haltemprice and Howden has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including Yorkshire Forward. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Haltemprice and Howden.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £770,564 to seven projects in Haltemprice and Howden since 2 May 1997, including St Michael's Church, Skidby; StsPeter and Paul Church, Howden; and the Howden Historic Environment Regeneration Scheme.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Haltemprice and Howden constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. East Riding of Yorkshire council has recognised this value and undertaken initiatives such as Word on the Street" to initiate and develop positive attitudes to reading in young people aged between 11 and 16 and raise their awareness of the value and relevance of the modern library service. DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund 2000–01 awarded £75,982 to this project. Of this money, £25,000 funded a website geared to the needs of young people across East Yorkshire, including Haltemprice and Howden.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Haltemprice and Howden has benefited from over 190 awards totalling over £4.1 million. Of these, 20 awards worth over £1.7 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies (Tatton)

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Tatton constituency, the effects on Tatton of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Tatton since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving four School Sport Co-ordinators and 25 Primary Link teachers is based at Wilmslow High School in Tatton. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Tatton have benefited from seven Sport England lottery grants totalling £804,000.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, North West grants increased from £7.6 million to £19.6 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in the North West will be £28.4 million. Tatton has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including Cheshire Rural Touring Network and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Tatton will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Tatton also benefits from museums initiatives through the Cheshire Museums forum. Tatton Park, a National Trust property and registered Museum, was part of a successful bid from the Cheshire Museums forum to improve learning in Collections care. The forum also received £11,900 from the Museums Development fund to support a series of workshops to develop staff skills.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity within Cheshire. Two companies based in Knutsford have received lottery funding for development work.
	Since April 2002 the job of promoting local locations, crews and facilities to visiting production companies has been carried out by North West Vision. In particular Tatton Hall and Park has been used extensively as a location for films and television dramas such as Granada's 'The Forsyth Saga', 'Island at War' and 'Coronation Street'.
	Many other productions have been filmed in and around Knutsford such as Blue Blood (BBC3), Spine Chillers (BBC3) and the new feature film of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Local crew and facility companies are promoted through North West Vision's online production database and published production guide. 50 per cent. of Cheshire's freelancers live in the district of Macclesfield and over 25 per cent. of film facility companies are based in the borough.
	Since 2002 Cheshire has facilitated 78 productions generating 501 filming days.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Tatton with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,770.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Tatton, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Tatton has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including the North West Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Tatton.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £736,208 to five projects in Tatton since 2 May 1997, including the Anderton Boat Lift, Belmont Hall in Great Budworth, Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, the Lion Salt Works and St.Michael and All Angels in Little Leigh.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Tatton are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. Cheshire council has recognised this value and has undertaken various initiatives such as the Fully Booked project to encourage reading among people across Cheshire, especially those of 65 plus who visit day centres and those with special needs. The project received an award for £30,348 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 2000–01.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Tatton has benefited from over 150 awards totalling over £6.9 million. Of these, 19 awards worth over £245,000 were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies (Woodspring)

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Woodspring constituency, the effects on Woodspring of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Woodspring since 2 May 1997.
	In order to achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving five School Sport Co-ordinators and 35 Primary Link teachers is based at Wyvern in Woodspring. To achieve our challenging targets for increase participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Woodspring have benefited from 10 Sport England Lottery grants totalling £2,218,978.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, South West grants increased from £4.3 million to £12.2 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in the South West will be £14.1 million. Woodspring has benefited from this increased funding to arts projects, organisations and individuals.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Woodspring will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries through the work of the Regional Screen Agencies have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity outside London. Last year 24 productions were shot in Somerset adding £333,000 to the local economy, including Woodspring.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Woodspring with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 6,085.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Woodspring, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Woodspring has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including South West Regional Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Woodspring.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £57,885 to five buildings and organisations in Woodspring since 2 May 1997, including Tickenham Court, Clivedon and the Nailsea Glassworks, Nailsea.
	In common with all of those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Woodspring constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million Lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community and informal learning value of public libraries. North Somerset council has recognised this value and as part of a consortium (including North Somerset, Somerset County and the Unitary Authorities of Bath and North-East Somerset and South Gloucestershire) took part in an initiative called Foursite Internet for a new Era the result of which was the installation of 24/7 phone lines, internet access by mobile phone and a web catalogue system, which was shared across the consortium. Libraries in Woodspring benefited from this project which received a total award of £147,750 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 1998–99.
	Information from the National Lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Woodspring has benefited from over 176 awards totalling over £9.3 million. Of these, 21 awards worth over £1.4 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) only a selection of the information disclosed in response to Freedom of Information requests since January.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 10 February 2005
	My Department intends to publish all information disclosed in response to requests made since January under the Freedom of Information Act, save where it is impractical to do so. My Department will be enhancing its online Publication Scheme to ensure that members of the public are able to find material which has been released. My Department does not intend routinely to place copies of such information in the Library of the House.

Historic Buildings

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with English Heritage concerning its budget to retain and restore houses and other structures deemed to be of historic value.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met English Heritage's chairman on 6 December 2004 to discuss its budget. The Minister for Heritage and DCMS officials also have regular meetings with English Heritage to discuss budgetary issues. Its financial settlement for the next three years includes £12 million of capital for investment in Apethorpe Hall and other historic sites in English Heritage's care.

Ministerial Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on official Ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: Ministers do not have discrete headed paper, compliment slips or business cards. Ministerial correspondence uses the same headed paper and cards as those used by officials. The annual cost of print for such items is circa £9,400.

Obesity

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to fight youth obesity through the further development of school sports;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to combat obesity through sport.

Richard Caborn: Halting the growth in childhood obesity is one of our prime objectives. We have set a national target to halt, by 2010, the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole. This objective is shared jointly by my Department, Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills.
	On Tuesday 14 December 2004, the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced a further investment of £519 million from 2006–07 to 2007–08 for physical education and school sport.
	The public service agreement target shared by the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will ensure that 75 per cent. of pupils by 2006 and 85 per cent. of pupils by 2008 should receive at least two hours each week of high quality PE and school sport.
	By 2010, our ambition is for all children to be offered at least four hours of sport every week. This will comprise at least two hours of high quality PE and sport at school and, in addition, the opportunity for at least a further two to three hours beyond the school day, delivered by a range of school, community and club providers.
	My Department is working in close collaboration with key agencies including Sport England, the Big Lottery Fund, local government and others to inspire people to get active. We have allocated £65.8 million of Exchequer funding to Sport England to help drive forward our agenda for increasing physical activity in 2005–06. In addition Sport England plans to invest £315 million, including £40 million of Exchequer funding in the development of 32 sports at all levels over the next four years.
	This investment will enable us to help people to start and stay in sport, increasing and widening the base of participation for everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin or disability; to create a dynamic network of clubs, coaches and volunteers thus creating a culture of lifelong participation, contributing to the wider public health agenda of tackling the problem of obesity in our society.

Parliamentary Questions

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2004, Official Report, column 166W on correspondence, when she will provide a substantive reply.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Media and Heritage has written to the hon. Gentleman today with further details on this decision, enclosing a copy of English Heritage's advice. The Department has now received English Heritage's advice. It advised that this telephone box does not meet the listing criteria. After careful consideration of the evidence and of this advice, the Secretary of State concurred with English Heritage and decided on 19 January not to add this building to the list. The listing applicant has been informed of this.

Playing Fields

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the sale of playing fields.

Richard Caborn: The Government are committed to improving playing fields and protecting them wherever possible. The legislative changes we have introduced have dramatically reduced the number of sales of both school and community playing fields.
	The Government will continue to explore ways in which the legislation can be tightened further so that even more playing fields can be protected.

Playing Fields

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to enhance and protect playing fields in England.

Richard Caborn: Since 1995 Sport England has funded the creation of more than 320 new sports pitches, and improvements to more than 520.
	At the same time, the Government have dramatically reduced the overall number of sales of both school and community playing fields, by introducing legislative changes and improving checks to the planning system. These measures have successfully halted the indiscriminate disposal of school playing fields.
	In the majority of cases where playing fields are redeveloped they are replaced with new improved sport and recreation facilities.

Social Exclusion (Midlothian)

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution the lottery has made to combating social exclusion in Midlothian.

Estelle Morris: Lottery distributors are required to take into account the need to reduce economic and social deprivation in making awards.
	It can be difficult to determine precisely the extent of their contribution to reducing social and financial exclusion but a significant number of lottery-funded projects have helped to regenerate inner cities, create employment and strengthen communities. Since the lottery began 298 awards have been made to Midlothian, totalling £16.5 million.

Sports Clubs

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in promoting the tax relief benefits available to sports clubs.

Richard Caborn: Over 2,000 sports clubs have already received an estimated total of £5 million in tax reliefs by registering as Community Amateur Sports Clubs with the Inland Revenue. But many more clubs are still missing out because they do not know that this help is available.
	My Department has therefore published Growing Community Sport", a leaflet publicising the CASC scheme. I have sent copies to many of my parliamentary colleagues, and hope that they will make use of this leaflet to tell their constituents about the benefits available to sports clubs. They can obtain extra copies by contacting the DCMS.

Sports Clubs

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on tax relief for amateur sports clubs.

Richard Caborn: The Community Amateur Sports Club scheme provides such clubs with a relief of 80 per cent. on their non-domestic rates and Gift Aid on donations from individuals, as part of a package of benefits intended to promote community and grass roots sport.
	I welcome the fact that more than 2,000 clubs have so far registered with the scheme and received an estimated total of £5 million in tax reliefs as a result of doing so.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Asian Tsunami

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to recover documents lost by British citizensas a consequence of the tsunami in South East Asia; and what steps are being taken to prevent identity fraud.

Chris Mullin: The nature of the disaster was such that many documents will never be recovered, but arrangements are in place to deal with those documents that are recovered. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas posts are maintaining a high level of vigilance against document fraud in close liaison with the United Kingdom Passport Service.

British High Commission (Swaziland)

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to retain the British High Commission in Swaziland.

Chris Mullin: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary explained in his written statement on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 137–40WS, we have decided to close our High Commission in Swaziland while maintaining an honorary Consul in Mbabane and non-resident accreditation from Pretoria. This reflects the need to align better our resources with our priorities, to maximise efficiency, and to ensure that the UK has a cost-effective and flexible network of overseas representation.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Due to the devolution of budgets, this information is not held centrally by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The information could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Colombia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of (a) Colombia and (b) Venezuela regarding the dispute over the arrest of FARC member Rodrigo Granda.

Bill Rammell: We have not had specific discussions with the Colombian or Venezuelan Governments on this issue, although it has been touched on during regular contacts between our embassies and the respective governments.
	The two countries recently issued a communique" stating that the dispute has been resolved. We understand that the Venezuelan ambassador to Colombia has now returned to his post in Bogota. We are pleased that the two countries appear to be committed to a swift diplomatic resolution of the crisis.
	Presidents Uribe and Chavez met on 15 February to formalise the resolution to the dispute.

Commemorative Events

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement the European Communities have had in commemorative anniversary events held by the Government since 1997.

Denis MacShane: The Government frequently hold commemorative events of various kinds. From time to time representatives of other EU member states or EU institutions take part in such events, depending on their nature. To answer this question in more detail would incur disproportionate costs.

EU Common Foreign and Security Policy

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives of the Government are in relation to a common foreign and security policy in the European Union.

Denis MacShane: The Government continue to work to develop a more effective and proactive EU common foreign and security policy capable of tackling key international issues and security threats as well as being able to react rapidly and appropriately to crises. The Government's objectives in relation to the EU's common foreign and security policy in 2005 are set out in paragraphs 64 to 87 in the White Paper titled Prospects for the EU in 2005" (Cm 6450). Copies are available in the Library of the House. The Government have made a commitment to keep Parliament informed of their priorities/objectives across the range of EU business through the regular publication of these White Papers.

EU MEDIA Training Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) budget, (b) aims and (c) target group of the Communities MEDIA Training programme; and if he will list projects funded to date involving United Kingdom partners.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The MEDIA Training programme is part of the European Union's audio-visual policy. The MEDIA training budget for the six years 2001–06 is €59.4 million. The aims of the programme are to improve the continuous vocational training of professionals in the audio-visual sector; and encourage co-operation and exchange of know-how and best practice. Training activities supported by the MEDIA Training Programme are mainly targeted at professionals in the audio-visual industry and from radio, in particular: new media content providers, professionals from the animation industry, professionals from post-production, notably visual effects supervisors, managers, producers, directors, sales agents, distributors, marketing executives, script-writers, script-editors, commissioning editors, as well as trainers. The following table sets out the training courses (and their providers) funded to date involving United Kingdom partners. UK professionals have also benefited from courses which are not organised by United Kingdom partners.
	
		
			  Training provider Training course 
		
		
			 2001 Moonstone International Moonstone Filmmaker's Lab and Moonstone Screenwriter's Lab 
			 2001 Arista Arista Development Workshops 
			 2002 Draft Zero EdeN—European Development Network 
			 2003 Moonstone International Moonstone Filmmaker's Lab and Moonstone Screenwriter's Lab 
			 2003 The Script Factory Scene Insiders 
			 2003 Draft Zero EdeN—European Development Network 
			 2004 Arista Development Arista Development Workshops 
			 2004 Moonstone International Moonstone Filmmaker's Lab and Moonstone Screenwriter's Lab 
			 2004 The Script Factory Scene Insiders 
			 2004 University of West England The Three Month Bristol Animation Course

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 1 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Saif-Ur-Rehman.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote on 12 January and replied substantively on 10 February.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 30 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. M. Abbas.

Chris Mullin: My hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Mr. MacShane) replied on 19 January 2005. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary sent a further update on 10 February 2005.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people in Cuba who are (a) serving prison sentences and (b) awaiting trial for political reasons.

Bill Rammell: The Cuban Government do not acknowledge the existence of political prisoners, nor do they disclose the number of those awaiting trial. Our Embassy in Havana maintains contact with a number of civil society groups that monitor prisoner numbers and conditions within these constraints. One of these, the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation estimates in its January 2005 report that there are currently 294 prisoners who are either serving sentences or awaiting trial for political reasons.

Cuba

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the decision by the EU to suspend sanctions on Cuba.

Bill Rammell: I welcome the adoption of the EU Council Conclusions on Cuba on 31 January which should help enable us to pursue a critical engagement with the Cuban Government and to have enhanced contacts with the peaceful opposition. We believe this approach is the right way to achieve the EU's objectives as set out in the Common Position of 1996, including to promote the peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy in Cuba. Normalised contact with the Cuban Government will enable the UK Government to press the Cuban Government on issues of concern—especially human rights, including our call for the release of all political prisoners—and to further UK/Cuba co-operation in areas of mutual interest such as the fight against crime, child protection and in developing sustainable tourism in Cuba.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often since 1997 (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have (i)brought and (ii) sought to bring the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo for discussions in the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Security Council recognised the severity of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in its Presidential Statement (1998/26) of 31 August 1998. Since that date the situation in the DRC has been regularly on the Security Council agenda. The Security Council's most recent statement was published on 7 December 2004.
	The UK plays an active role in these discussions. We strongly support the UN Peacekeeping Force and the UN's work in helping implement the peace agreements in the DRC and across the region.

Departmental Cleaning Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The cost of cleaning the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Home Estate) in each year since 1997 is:
	
		
			  Cost £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,127,514 
			 1998–99 1,209,956 
			 1999–2000 1,074,543 
			 2000–01 1,147,345 
			 2001–02 1,871,954 
			 2002–03 1,370,478 
			 2003–04 1,547,359 
			 2004–05 (1)1,195,631 
		
	
	(1)To date.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EC-Albania) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Albania-EC Joint Committee meetings, organised under the framework of the 1992 EC/Albania Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, take place annually. The venue alternates between Brussels and Tirana. Recent meetings have been on 12 February 2003 in Tirana under the Greek Presidency of the EU and on 13 February 2004 in Brussels under the Irish Presidency of the EU. The EC is represented at these meetings by the Commission, although member states have the option of attending as observers.
	On 31 January 2003, negotiations were opened between Albania and the EU for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The progress of these negotiations and the accompanying reforms are monitored by the EU-Albania Consultative Task Force, which generally meets about four times a year, usually in Tirana. The UK is regularly represented in observer capacity at these working-level meetings.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EEC-Estonia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The EU-Estonia Association Committee met once a year until Estonia joined the EU in May 2004. During the period of the Italian, Irish and Dutch Presidencies (June 2003 to December 2004) it met once in June 2003, in Talinn. An official from UK Permanent Representation to the EU attended.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EEC-Latvia) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The EU-Latvia Association Committee met once a year until Latvia joined the EU in May 2004. During the period of the Italian, Irish and Dutch Presidencies (June 2003 to December 2004) it met once in June 2003, in Riga. An official from UK Permanent Representation to the EU attended.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EEC-Lithuania) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The EU-Lithuania Association Committee met once a year until Lithuania joined the EU in May 2004. During the period of the Italian, Irish and Dutch presidencies (June 2003 to December 2004) it met once in June 2003, in Vilnius. We do not have any record of UK officials attending.

European Constitution

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 935W, on EU Constitutional Treaty, from which budget within his Department the cost of the Commentary on the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe was met.

Denis MacShane: The cost of producing the Commentary on the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe was met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Europe Directorate.

European Constitution

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff within his Department are working on publications relating to the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe; and from which units within his Department they are drawn.

Denis MacShane: Preparation of publications relating to the EU Constitution is one of the tasks carried out by staff working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Europe Directorate. No FCO staff work solely on such publications.

European Constitution

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2005, Official Report, columns 1020–21W, on the European Constitution, if he will list the dates of meetings held with European Commission officials pertaining to the provision of information relating to the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe.

Denis MacShane: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly meet with European Commission officials to discuss a wide range of European Union issues. We do not maintain a list of the occasions when information about the EU Constitutional Treaty was discussed at these meetings.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of Article III-305 of the European Constitution, concerning a common UK/EU position with Cyprus and Malta on Commonwealth meetings.

Denis MacShane: The EU is not and cannot be a member of the Commonwealth. If the Constitutional Treaty comes into force, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs could only present the position of the EU at a Commonwealth meeting if the EU had been invited to attend. In such circumstances he/she would speak for the EU. The UK would continue to represent itself as a Commonwealth member.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the application of Article III-296, subsection 2 and related articles, on the ceding by the United Kingdom of its chair at Commonwealth meetings in areas where the European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs expresses a mandate.

Denis MacShane: The United Kingdom cannot cede its chair at Commonwealth meetings to the EU Minister for Foreign Affairs as the EU is not a member of the Commonwealth, nor can it become one. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of sovereign states. The United Kingdom, like two other EU members (Malta and Cyprus) is a member of the Commonwealth in its own right and as such participates in deliberations and meetings and will continue to do so. This situation will not change under the Constitutional Treaty.

Genocide (International Obligations)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obligations there are under international agreements to act in confirmed cases of genocide; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Under Article 1 of the Genocide Convention 1951, the Parties undertake to prevent and punish the crime of genocide whether committed in time of peace or war. Under Article 5, they undertake to provide effective penalties for persons guilty of genocide or genocide-related crimes, and Article 6 provides that persons charged with such acts shall be tried. In addition, in Article 7, the Parties 'pledge themselves ... to grant extradition' in cases of genocide or genocide-related crimes.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Gibraltarians are being held in Spanish prisons; in which prisons they are held; what visits have been made by councillors or Embassy officials to these individuals in the last five years; how and how regularly the BritishEmbassy in Madrid informs the Gibraltarian authorities of developments in these cases; and which trials councillors or Embassy officials have attended in the last five years.

Chris Mullin: There are 12 British passport holders with connections to Gibraltar being held in Spanish prisons, two in the Madrid consular district, and 10 in the Malaga consular district. Of these, nine have been visited in accordance with Consular Prison visits Policy. The other three have declined consular assistance.
	Consular staff in Spain aim to contact British Nationals within 24 hours of being informed of an arrest, and to make a visit within 48 hours. Unless prisoners have said that they do not wish to be visited, Consular staff at British posts should aim to visit all detainees whilst on remand at reasonable intervals as deemed necessary by the Consulate/Embassy. Thereafter, one visit is made after sentencing. Further visits are normally only made if a real need arises (family, health, social problems, etc).
	Consular staff are not trained to give legal advice and do not routinely attend court hearings.
	There is no requirement for consular staff to inform the Gibraltarian authorities about the arrest of British Nationals with connections to Gibraltar. However, Consular staff do normally inform the Gibraltarian authorities as a matter of courtesy. If the prisoner wishes, Consular staff will also keep family informed.

Immigration Cases

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the High Commission in Islamabad sent to the Home Office the case papers on Mr. I. H., husband of Mrs. S. B. of Aylesbury, reference number ISB/747450.

Chris Mullin: I regret that I cannot provide this information as it is not our practice to disclose details of individual entry clearance cases in a public forum. However, I have written to the hon. Member.

International Criminal Court

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the proceedings brought to the International Criminal Court since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The International Criminal Court has launched two formal investigations at the request of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, but as yet there are no proceedings arising out of these investigations.

Iran

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) Iran's current nuclear capability and (b) the future progress of its nuclear programme.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply Igave to the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) on 25 January 2005, Official Report, column 236W.

Iran

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards Iran.

Bill Rammell: Our policy towards Iran, like that of the European Union, is one of constructive but critical engagement. We maintain a robust dialogue on issues of concern such as Iran's nuclear programme, human rights record, approach to the fight against terrorism and attitude towards the Middle East Peace Process.

Iran

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to support the reform movement in Iran.

Bill Rammell: Supporting reform across the Middle East region, including Iran, is a priority for the Government. We are promoting reform in Iran through: engagement with Ministries, the Judiciary, and civil society within Iran, including through the EU-Iran Human Rights Dialogue; project work on good governance, rule of law and advancement of women; and action at the UN, including most recently co-sponsoring with other EU countries a General Assembly resolution in December 2004 expressing serious concern at the human rights situation in Iran and calling for change.

Iran

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had concerning Iran's nuclear programme.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has frequent discussions with his French and German colleagues concerning Iran's nuclear programme. The issue is also always on the agenda for discussions with a wide range of Ministers from other states.
	Most recently, the Foreign Secretary held lengthy discussions with the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleeza Rice on 4 February. The Foreign Secretary and Dr. Rice made public statements on the discussions at a press conference following their meeting. The transcript of the press conference is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk.
	Discussions at senior official level with representatives of the Iranian Government continue on a regular basis.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of people detained by Coalition forces in Iraq but not recorded on Camp Cropper prison rolls and not presented to the International Committee of the Red Cross; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: When US detention facilities were first established in Iraq there were administrative lapses that resulted in errors in the recording of detainees, but remedial action was taken to ensure these were corrected. We are aware of allegations that some detentions were deliberately not recorded. We have raised this with the United States authorities who assured us that there were no unrecorded detainees. All detainees at British facilities are recorded fully.
	The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) is able to visit any US and UK detention facility. They also have access to prisoner records. The ICRC produces regular reports based on visits they make to coalition detention facilities. We address promptly any concerns raised by the ICRC. We also encourage the US to do the same, including concerns raised over the recording of detainees held by coalition forces.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has received concerning the possible involvement of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro with the overseas assets of the Saddam Hussein regime; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are not aware of any information received by the Government concerning the involvement of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro with the overseas assets of the Saddam Hussein regime.

Iraq

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the electoral register in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The electoral register in Iraq was compiled by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI). Excerpts from the register were displayed prior to the 30 January elections to enable anybody to challenge the accuracy of the information it contained. Whether to publish the consolidated voter register is a matter for the IECI.

Iraq

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department made of the percentage of the adult population of Iraq that was registered to vote.

Bill Rammell: Preliminary estimates indicate that over 85 per cent. of the adult population were registered to vote in the elections on 30 January.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 31 January 2005, Official Report, columns 573–91, on Iraq, what the nationality was of the insurgents detained in Iraq for offences in connection with the elections.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 4 February 2005
	We do not have detailed information about the nationality of insurgents detained in Iraq for offences in connection with the elections. As with other terrorist attacks in Iraq, insurgents involved in such offences would likely include a proportion of foreigners. By way of illustration, the Iraqi Interim Government has said that all the eight suicide bombers involved in attacks on the day of the elections were foreign—four Sudanese, two Syrians, one Indonesian and one Saudi Arabian.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what part officials from UK Government departments have had in the (a) management and (b) monitoring of reconstruction funds in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: As a Coalition partner in Iraq the UK Government was a member of the Programme Review Board (PRB), established by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to enable emergency or unanticipated extra-budgetary spending requests—including for reconstruction projects—to be brought to a joint Iraqi-CPA body for assessment and authorisation. A senior UK Government official attended PRB meetings on behalf of the UK. Minutes of the PRB are available online at http://www.cpairaq.org/budget/program_review_board.html.
	The UK was also instrumental in setting up the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), to oversee the auditing of Iraq's oil revenues and their management by the Coalition in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1483 of 22 May 2003. UK officials had no direct role in the monitoring or auditing of reconstruction funds in Iraq. The auditing function of the CPA was carried out by officials and professionals supplied by other members of the Coalition, who worked alongside the firm of international auditors employed by the IAMB to undertake the audit of CPA management of the Development Fund for Iraq on behalf of the IAMB.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department was first informed of the mismanagement of reconstruction funds in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. MacShane) gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr. Simmonds) on 4 February 2005, Official Report, column 1202W.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK-based private contractors enjoy immunity from prosecution under local Iraqi law.

Bill Rammell: Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 17 continues to govern the status of certain foreign private security contractors in Iraq. These include private security contractors who are providing security services to Diplomatic Missions, the Multinational Force, International Consultants and other contractors defined in the Order, and their personnel. Such contractors will be immune from Iraqi legal process with respect to acts performed by them pursuant to the terms of a contract. Contractors must, however, respect Iraqi laws. Private security companies must comply with all CPA Orders and Memoranda. CPA Memorandum 17 obliges all such companies operating in Iraq to obtain a Business License from the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and an Operating License from the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior (MOI). The MOI monitors the actions of such companies and can revoke their Operating License. The contracting state has the right to waive the immunity of such companies.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will submit a declaration to the United Nations Security Council, in pursuance of Paragraph 23 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991) of 8 April 1991, formally to end sanctions against Iraq.

Bill Rammell: Comprehensive sanctions against Iraq,as imposed by UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 661 (6 August 1990) and amended by subsequent relevant resolutions, were lifted by UNSCR 1483 (22 May 2003). However, the Security Council has continued to judge the situation in Iraq a threat to international peace and security. UNSCR 1483, passed in 2003, retained an arms embargo, with certain exemptions; imposed a freeze on assets outside Iraq of the former Iraqi regime and certain associates, and an obligation on member states to transfer these funds to the Development Fund for Iraq; and prohibited trade in stolen Iraqi cultural property.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the Absentee Property Law and its effect on Israeli policy in the West Bank.

Bill Rammell: On 24 January, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv wrote to Israeli Justice Minister Livni to request further information on the Absentee Property Law. On 26 January, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor, raised our concerns about this Law with Dov Weisglass, Prime Minister Sharon's Chief of Staff.
	On 1 February, the Israeli Attorney General reversed the Israeli government's decision of July 2004 to apply the Law allowing the expropriation of Palestinian land in Jerusalem.

Mobile Phones

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the costof staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The costs of staff mobile phones for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99 are set out in the table. Since April 1999, budgets have been devolved to individual Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departments. Information from this date could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Cost of staff mobile phones years 1996 to 1999
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1996–97 169,357 
			 1997–98 190,199 
			 1998–99 290,011

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by (a) the UK and (b) the EU to help with preparations for the application of the EU acquis to northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Following Cyprus' accession to the EU, as a divided island, the application of the acquis was suspended in the north pending a settlement. Help in preparing for the application of the acquis in the north is therefore an important component in facilitating a settlement. The Government's ultimate objective remains a just, viable and lasting settlement for the benefit of all Cypriots.
	Since May last year, the European Commission has provided limited assistance to Turkish Cypriots through its Technical Assistance Exchange Office programme, which we welcome. The objective is to bring Turkish Cypriots closer to the European Union. We also support efforts in the EU to obtain agreement on the Commission's package of proposals for financial aid to and direct trade with the north of Cyprus.
	The British Government are themselves funding a small number of projects in north Cyprus under the Re-uniting Europe" programme within the Global Opportunities Fund. (More information on these can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: fco.gov.uk>Programmes>Global Opportunities Fund). These projects are designed to help the Turkish Cypriot community to prepare for reunification and full participation in the EU. Our efforts are in line with EU commitments and will, we believe, help facilitate a future settlement.

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Republic of Cyprus over the UK's steps to help Turkish Cypriots prepare for the application of the EU acquis in the north of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no such discussions with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, although UK policy in this area has been discussed bilaterally at senior official level.
	The UK funds a number of projects in the north of Cyprus which deliver technical expertise on administrative reform and the handling of EU-related business, in order to help Turkish Cypriots prepare for the demands of a settlement and full participation in the EU. It is in the interests of the smooth functioning of a united Cyprus that this reform process should begin as soon as possible. These projects therefore form an important part of the Government's policy of promoting a Cyprus settlement.

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which EU member state diplomats attended the Turkish National Day celebrations hosted in northern Cyprus by the Turkish Ambassador to the TRNC; what representations the Republic of Cyprus made on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: I am unable to comment on the attendance of other member states at this event, but my hon. Friend could contact the Turkish Ambassador to the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" directly about this.
	The British High Commissioner attended last year, in line with practice for at least nine years. The Republic of Cyprus made several representations to express their concern. We took every effort to reassure them that attendance in no way constituted recognition of the TRNC", on which the Government's policy of non-recognition is well-known and absolutely firm. Attendance was part of our efforts to promote a Cyprus settlement through engagement with both sides.

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the proposals put forward by the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr. El-Baredei, to the World Economic Forum in Davos on 27 January for controls on nuclear weapons and military nuclear materials and technologies from terrorist groups.

Denis MacShane: The UK shares Dr. El Baradei's desire for a strengthened non-proliferation regime, and is currently examining his proposals in more detail. The UK has a good record of working with international partners to combat the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction, through initiatives such as the Global Partnership.

Peru

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Peruvian Government concerning its implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, published in August 2003.

Bill Rammell: I raised this matter with the Peruvian Prime Minister when I visited Peru in December 2004 and reiterated our ongoing support for implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
	We have actively supported the efforts of the TRC. This support has helped develop institutional capacity within this Commission in the regions most affected by the violence. The Peruvian authorities are now in the process of implementing the TRC's recommendations. We are currently supporting the work of the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office and the National Co-ordinator for Human Rights in this aim.

Peru

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Peruvian Government concerning the pace of the trial reviews for men and women who may have been wrongly accused and convicted of terrorism in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Bill Rammell: Our Embassy in Lima made representations on this issue to the Peruvian authorities in April and September 2004. We will continue to monitor these cases and support the Peruvian Government's efforts to uphold the rights of the citizens to justice.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on postage by the Department in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure on postage for each financial year is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 April 2001 to March 2002 237,171 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 226,667 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 216,349 
			 Expenditure this financial year:  
			 April 2004 to December 2004 153,146 
		
	
	Information on the costs of postage for the financial years prior to April 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Project Coast

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Government holds on the former South Africa regime's project code-named Project Coast; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Her Majesty's Government holds information on Project Coast derived from a variety of sources including the findings of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the trial of the former head of the project, Wouter Basson.

Russia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the attempt by some members of the Russian Duma to ban all religious and ethnic Jewish organisations as extremist.

Bill Rammell: It is shocking that 20 Duma deputies should sign such a statement particularly at a time when the world was commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops.
	I welcome the Statement from the State Duma that condemned such openly anti- Semitic views.
	The Government's position on such issues is well known: we condemn all forms of discrimination and are committed to countering intolerance at home and abroad as an integral part of protecting and promoting human rights.

Russia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of levels of xenophobia and anti-Semitism in Russia.

Bill Rammell: Reports by NGOs and in the media about prejudice and violence against minorities in Russia are concerning. These reports indicate that racially motivated crimes against black, Asian, Caucasian and Jewish people in Russia appear to be increasing. One report from the Sova human rights centre in Moscow suggests that the number of racially motivated deaths in Russia increased from around 15 in 2003 to at least 44 in 2004.
	The growth of extremist neo-Nazi and skinhead organisations is another concerning development. A report by the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights estimated that, at the end of 2003, there were 50,000 skinheads across Russia, mainly concentrated in the larger cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
	While reports of growing anti-Semitism in Russia continue, Jewish groups agree that there is no state-sponsored anti-Semitism in Russia and President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated sympathy for Jewish interests. However, prejudice remains common and reports of sporadic attacks on Jewish buildings and individuals continue.
	The Government's position on such issues is well known: we condemn all forms of discrimination and are committed to countering intolerance at home and abroad as an integral part of protecting and promoting human rights.
	To help combat racism and xenophobia in Russia the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded a one-year project to assist NGOs representing ethnic minorities in the regions. We are also co-funding an ambitious project to bring ethnic minority NGOs and the police together in different regions to develop strategies for tackling racism and discrimination. A further project, started in 2003, provides legal support and takes on strategic litigation to protect the rights of the Roma community.

South Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa about the promotion of democratic reform in Africa.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed governance, which included democratic reform, with South African Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma, during the UK-South Africa Bilateral Forum on 25–26 August 2004. Good governance is one of the five key areas of the work of the Commission for Africa which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for International Development have discussed with the South African Government on several occasions in recent months.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army's reaction to the Sudanese army's actions on 8 December 2004 in the Thabit area near ElFasher; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The report of the UN Secretary General on the Sudan notes that there was renewed fighting between government troops and rebel forces, including the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) around Thabit on 7–8 December, and that the
	SLA withdrew when attacked in many of these cases."
	The report goes on to highlight continued breaches of the ceasefire by both sides. We are maintaining sustained pressure on Khartoum and rebels to show restraint in the face of provocation, to comply with UN Resolutions and their own commitments, and to reach a political settlement.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur.

Chris Mullin: The report of the International Commission of Inquiry (ICI) was released to the Security Council on 31 January. The report concluded that the Government of Sudan, the Arab militias and the rebels are all guilty of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, which may amount to crimes against humanity and/or war crimes. The report found no evidence that the Government of Sudan have pursued a policy of genocide in Darfur, although a competent court" will need to decide whether certain individuals have done so. The report stresses that the crimes which have taken place in Darfur
	may be no less serious and heinous than genocide"
	and recommends that the crimes should be referred to the International Criminal Court.
	The ICI has given the UN Secretary General a list of suspects it believes may have perpetrated these crimes, and recommends that he pass this list to a competent Prosecutor. The UN Security Council is united in their determination that there can be no impunity for these crimes and will be discussing the next steps over the coming days.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the referral of the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court in accordance with the findings of the UN Inquiry on Darfur.

Bill Rammell: Our preference is for the situation in Darfur to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), as recommended by the International Commission of Inquiry. Since Sudan is not a state party to the ICC Statute, and is unlikely to refer the situation to the Court, a decision by the Security Council will be required.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on the rights of civilians to express their political views, including holding public demonstrations.

Chris Mullin: We regularly raise this issue with the Government of Sudan. Most recently, on 6 February 2005, our embassy in Khartoum raised with the Ministry of Information the need to respect people's right to freedom of expression, with particular reference to press freedom, following recent action taken against the media.
	Personal liberty, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of expression and of assembly and association are guaranteed by the Power Sharing Protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/Army signed on 9 January 2005. We are pressing both sides to fully implement the terms of the agreement.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that security forces in Sudan opened fire upon civilian protesters from the Beja community in Port Sudan on 29 January.

Chris Mullin: I refer the hon., Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 9 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1557- 58W, and to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) on 16 February (UINs 215847 and 215848).

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he plans to take to assist the African Union to deploy the full contingent of troops to Darfur without delay.

Chris Mullin: We are providing the African Union (AU) with considerable support to allow the mission to deploy the full contingent of troops. Since May 2004 we have provided more than £14 million in funding, from which we have provided logistical support including 143 vehicles, with a further delivery of 470 vehicles to take place soon. A UK officer also provides planning support to the AU and we have a UK observer on the ground.
	The AU currently has just over 1,900 troops on the ground, and more are expected in the coming weeks. We remain in close contact with the AU, and our partners in the international community, about what further assistance we may be able to provide to aid their deployment.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capability of the African Union mission in Darfur to fulfil its mandate.

Chris Mullin: We fully support the African Union (AU) mission in Darfur. There have been some delays in deployment, but the AU now have more than 1,900 personnel on the ground. We and other donors have worked hard to help the AU overcome the logistical problems that they have faced in Darfur, by providing financial assistance, planning support and equipment. Where troops are equipped and on the ground they are playing a strong role, not only in monitoring, but also in defusing tensions; negotiating release of hostages; and offering protection to aid convoys. We note that the latest report by the UN Secretary General highlights the positive difference the AU are making in Darfur, particularly in facilitating the movement of humanitarian relief, preventing the escalation of violence, defusing tensions and providing security. The UN Secretary General goes on to state that
	the presence and pro-active initiatives taken by the AU mission have surpassed expectations."

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the views of the African Union's Chief Ceasefire Monitor, General Festus Okonkwo, concerning the build-up of arms and troops in Darfur.

Chris Mullin: We fully support the comments made by General Okonkwo. We share his concerns about the build-up of troops and arms in Darfur. We are discussing ways to address this in the Security Council, including through further measures to control arms flows into and within Darfur. At the same time we are pressing all sides to abide by the commitments they have made and the obligations placed upon them, and then to return to the negotiating table in Abuja. A political dialogue, rather than use of weapons and troops, is the only way in which a lasting solution to the problems in Darfur will be found.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Government of Sudan's progress in implementing his Five-Point Plan for Peace within the agreed three months.

Chris Mullin: On 6 October 2004, the Government of Sudan gave their commitment to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that they would co-operate with the African Union (AU) mission; provide the location of militia forces and confine these forces to barracks, if the rebels would also do so; conclude the Compressive Peace Agreement by the end of the year; and to implement the Abuja Humanitarian Protocol.
	The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was concluded on 31 December 2004, and formally signed on 9 January in Nairobi. The Government of Sudan have provided the location of their forces to the AU and are co-operating with the ongoing expansion of its mission. However neither the Government of Sudan nor the rebels have confined their troops to barracks. We welcome the improvement in humanitarian access from six months ago, as stated by the UN Secretary General in his latest report on Darfur. But it is still very poor, and we continue to be concerned that the security situation means that aid cannot be delivered to all that need it. We have made clear that security must improve and the ceasefire violations must stop. We are strongly pressing both sides to abide by the Abuja protocols.

Sudan

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the security situation in the east of Sudan;
	(2)  what discussions he has held with the Government of Sudan concerning its actions in relation to the unrest in the east of the country.

Chris Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 9 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1557–58W.
	Our embassy in Khartoum raised these incidents with Beja Congress leaders on 30 January 2005, and with the Government of Sudan on 31 January 2005.

Sudan

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will urge the UN to define the atrocities committed in Darfur as genocide;
	(2)  if he will urge his colleagues in the EU to define the atrocities committed in Darfur as genocide.

Chris Mullin: The UK pressed for the establishment of an expert International Commission of Inquiry (ICI) by the UN to investigate the atrocities in Darfur, and determine whether genocide had been committed. The ICI's report, issued to the Security Council on 31 January 2005, concluded that while the Government of Sudan had not pursued a policy of genocide in Darfur, a competent court" would need to decide whether certain individuals had done so, and that the Government of Sudan, the Arab militias and the rebels are all guilty of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, which may amount to crimes against humanity and/or war crimes.
	We are now discussing with EU partners and Security Council members how best to take forward the ICI's recommendations.

Sudan

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional resources are being furnished to the African Union by the (a) UK, (b) EU and (c) UN to assist its attempts to resolve the crisis in Darfur.

Chris Mullin: We strongly support the African Union (AU) mission in Darfur. Since May 2004 we have provided more than £14 million in funding, from which we have provided logistical support including 143 vehicles, with a further delivery of 470 vehicles to take place soon. A UK officer also provides planning support to the AU and we have a UK observer on the ground.
	The European Commission has provided €92 million to support the AU, and many EU member states are also providing bilateral assistance, including significant logistical support.
	The UN is also supporting the AU. A UN Assistance cell was established in Addis Ababa to enhance AU/UN co-operation, and includes military, police and logistics experts. A UN planning team is working closely with AU planners, and a UN military liaison officer is attached to AU headquarters in Darfur. The UN Advance Mission in the Sudan is establishing four officers in Darfur to facilitate liaison and co-operation with the AU mission in the field.
	We remain in close contact with the AU, and our partners in the international community, about what further assistance we may be able to provide.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have (i)proposed, (ii) scheduled and (iii) had since 7 January with members and representatives of the governments of (A) Argentina, (B) Benin, (C) Brazil, (D) China, (E) Denmark, (F) France, (G) Greece, (H) Japan, (I)Philippines, (J) Romania, (K) Russian Federation, (L) United Republic of Tanzania, (M) United States and (N) Algeria, (1) regarding the situation in Darfur, (2) regarding the Report of the Secretary-General on the Sudan pursuant to paragraphs 6,13, and 16 of Security Council resolution 1556 (2004), paragraph 15 of resolution 1564 (2004) and paragraph 17 of resolution 1574 (2004) and (3) regarding the use of the International Criminal Court to prosecute war crimes committed in (X) Darfur and (Y) Sudan in general; when each of these meetings took place; what specific proposals were (V) proposed and (W) accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have regular discussions at all levels with our fellow members of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in Darfur. Following the publication of the report of the International Commission of Inquiry, which recommended referring those accused of war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court, we are actively discussing the way forward with our Security Council partners.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) strategy and (b) actions of the US Administration to promote the establishment of a temporary UN-African Union court in Arusha, Tanzania to handle war crimes prosecutions with regard to Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are studying US proposals for a Sudan Tribunal based on the infrastructure of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Our initial analysis is that this option is less preferable than a Security Council referral of Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as recommended by the International Commission of Inquiry's report into the crimes in Darfur which was transmitted to the Security Council on 31 January.
	While an ICC referral is our preferred option, the ICC Statute is clear that a state which is not party to the ICC Statute—such as Sudan—can only be referred to the ICC by a decision of the Security Council. This will require consensus in the Council. We will study all options put forward by Security Council partners.

Targets

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many targets have been set in each year since 1997 by the Department; and, of these, which have been (a) met, (b) nearly met, (c) not met, (d) changed and (e) dropped.

Bill Rammell: The Department's targets and performance against them are set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Departmental Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

European Union (Court Cases)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those organisations in receipt of European Communities funds that have brought actions against the European Commission relating to interpretation of treaty articles at the European Court of Justice since 1997.

Denis MacShane: The number of such bodies who could potentially bring actions against the Commission is very large, including public or private bodies (such as industrial co-operatives and farmers) in any or all of the member states. The Government do not hold records of such actions taken against the Commission, which could be referred to the European Court of Justice by national courts in any member state as well as brought directly by the organisation.

European Union (Court Cases)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 38W, on whistleblowers, what monitoring of whistleblowing cases in the European Communities his Department undertakes.

Denis MacShane: The Government naturally take a close interest in any public comment on the financial or personnel management of the EU institutions. We are in frequent dialogue with the European Commission on a wide range of administrative matters.
	The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigates all allegations of fraud involving EU institutions which come to its attention, including cases where whistleblowing is involved. In its most recent activities report, relating to the period between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2004, OLAF for the first time provided information on the different sources of information it receives which lead to investigations. OLAF stated that in June 2004 it had five active cases (out of 511 active cases in total) where the primary source of information was a whistleblower. No new enquiry based on whistleblowing has been opened in the meantime.
	Further information about OLAF and its reporting can be found on the following website: http://europa. eu.int/comm/anti_fraud/index_en.html
	As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 37W, the Government took an active part in formulating the European Communities Staff Regulations, of May 2004, which offer whistleblowers what we consider to be a comparable measure of protection to that enjoyed by UK officials in Crown Service. The Regulations provide a complaint mechanism for EU officials: to date, no complaint has been lodged concerning the whistleblowing procedures.
	The Government will continue to follow closely this aspect of the EU institutions' efforts to protect their budgets against fraud.

European Union (Court Cases)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on expenditure planned under Council Decision 2005/12/EC of OJ L6 volume 48 of 8 January.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	The expenditure was reduced by member states in consultation with the European Commission and now stands at €2 million in each of the two years 2005–06. This is a reduction of €0.4 million per annum on the original request cited in explanatory memorandum COM(2004) 512 of the 6 October 2004. The proposal was introduced by the Commission to allow improved and more adequate cover for centrally financed civil protection activity in an enlarged European Union.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the announcement of elections in Zimbabwe and (b) the prospect of opposition participation in the elections; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The opposition movement for democratic change has announced that it will contest the 31 March Zimbabwean parliamentary elections. With our EU partners we have lobbied the Zimbabwean Government and its neighbours on the need for Zimbabwe to comply with the South African Development Community guidelines on democratic elections to which the Zimbabwean Government itself has signed up.

CABINET OFFICE

Aircraft Charters

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much money his office has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Alan Milburn: The Duchy of Lancaster office has not spent any money on chartering aircraft.
	Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course.
	All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code" and Travel by Ministers".

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) only a selection of the information disclosed in response to Freedom of Information requests since January.

David Miliband: holding answer 10 February 2005
	Guidance on Publication Schemes, issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in July 2002, recommended that where information is disclosed to an individual in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Departments should consider whether the information disclosed is of general interest and include released information in the Publication Scheme where appropriate.
	Where the information covered under the Act is of broader and more general interest and importance, it will be placed on the Cabinet Office website. Copies of significant documents may also be placed in the Library. It would not be appropriate to place all the information released on the website or in the Library some of which has relevance or significance only to those that have requested it.
	The Cabinet Office will ensure that where appropriate the House is informed of significant publications through a written ministerial statement.

Housing Policy

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his role in the development of Government policy on illegal Traveller encampments;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his role in the development of housing policy.

Alan Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 720W.

Overseas Trips

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

David Miliband: The total cost of all overseas travel and overseas air travel for the Cabinet Office from 1997–98 to the financial year 2001–02 is shown in the following table.
	
		Total cost of overseas travel
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 327,583 
			 1998–99 491,682 
			 1999–2000 495,381 
			 2000–01 779,187 
			 2001–02 1,020,505 
			 Of which:  
			 Total cost of overseas air travel  
			 1997–98 288,796 
			 1998–99 425,472 
			 1999–2000 428,206 
			 2000–01 682,139 
			 2001–02 912,006 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a further breakdown of costs as the information is not collected in the format requested, and to do so would incur disproportionate costs.
	Due to a change in the way that travel costs are recorded, it is not possible to extract the overseas travel costs from the total cost of travel for 2002–03 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The way in which the data on overseas journeys is recorded does not enable us to extract the number relating to each year without incurring disproportionate costs.
	All official travel in the Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code" and Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on training in nursing met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	This committee has not met during these presidencies. The members' terms of office have expired and the Commission has not sought further nominations.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on the training of midwives met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	The advisory committee on midwifery training did not meet during these presidencies.
	The terms of office of members have expired and the Commission has not sought further nominations.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Civil Servants

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04 and what the estimated cost will be in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Total costs for the early retirement scheme for the Department, which covers costs for the Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office and DCA headquarters, from its published resource accounts are outlined in the following table:
	
		
			  Total DCA 
		
		
			 1998–99 579,000 
			 1999–2000 208,000 
			 2000–01 935,000 
			 2001–02 624,000 
			 2002–03 — 
			 2003–04 1,016,000 
			 2004–05(2) 1,500,000 
		
	
	(2)Estimated
	Information on 1997–98 is not readily available. The Department is unable to provide figures for years 2005–06 to 2007–08 without incurring disproportionate costs.

Cleaning Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the costs of cleaning the Department and its predecessors were in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The direct cost of cleaning the Department's estate in 2002–03 was £5.05 million, in 2003–04 was £5.49 million and is estimated to be £5.83 million in 2004–05. These costs represent only those costs directly incurred by the Department through cleaning contracts and do not include cleaning services provided as part of wider facilities management contracts or provided by Landlords under the terms of individual leases. Information prior to 2002–03 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Catering

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii)staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: Departmental canteens and bars" is taken to mean facilities provided primarily for use by the Department's staff. This approach is consistent with the definition used in previous questions.
	(a) My Department has operated a staff canteen at its London Headquarters, where there is a concentration of staff, since 1997. Visitors to the building also use the facility.
	The catering service is contracted out and income from sales is used to offset the cost to the Department. There is, however, a need for a subsidy, the cost of which is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Subsidy (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98  
			 1998–99 The records for these years contain 
			 1999–2000 associated costs, which cannot be 
			 2000–01 separated out. The subsidy could only 
			 2001–02 be identified at disproportionate cost. 
			 2002–03  
			 2003–04 106,049 
		
	
	(b) There are no departmental bars.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of his Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is the Government Department responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy. The Department's aim is to provide for effective and accessible justice for all, to ensure the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, and to modernise the law and constitution.
	Currently, the Department has six strategic objectives, which cover the delivery of justice, civil and administrative law, protecting the vulnerable, modernising the constitution, increasing consumer choice and working in partnership with the independent judiciary. The Department also has seven Public Service Agreement targets to help deliver its strategic objectives.
	Examples of the activity in 2004 to deliver these objectives include work with partners to make sure criminal trials are more efficient with the numbers of ineffective Crown court trials falling from 24 per cent. in 2002–03 to 16 per cent. in September 2004. The rate has reduced from 31 per cent. to 25 per cent. for the same period in the magistrates courts. The Department has also been involved in work to help people resolve their disputes in the most effective way, including pilots to test the effectiveness of court-based mediation. During 2004 there was a reduction from almost 49 per cent. to 41 per cent. in those cases that had eventually to be resolved by a hearing. Another area where pilots were used successfully was for all postal voting in four regions of England at the combined European and local elections in June 2004. Voter turnout doubled in the pilot regions compared with 1999.
	The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to all of that activity is not collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, the information requested in the question cannot be provided in the form requested except at a disproportionate cost. However, statistical information about the Department's activities can be found at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/statistics/statfr.htm as well as at www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
	An example of the information available on those sites is data on persistent young offenders. The average number of days from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced between August and October 2004 was 59 days in the Lancashire criminal justice area, which covers the constituency of Blackpool South. This compares with 124 days in the 1997 calendar year, and 83 days in the 2001 calendar year.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to West Dorset constituency, the effects on West Dorset of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is the Government Department responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy. The Department's aim is to provide for effective and accessible justice for all, to ensure the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, and to modernise the law and constitution.
	Currently, the Department has six strategic objectives, which cover the delivery of justice, civil and administrative law, protecting the vulnerable, modernising the constitution, increasing consumer choice and working in partnership with the independent judiciary. The Department also has seven Public Service Agreement targets to help deliver its strategic objectives.
	Examples of the activity in 2004 to deliver these objectives include work with partners to make sure criminal trials are more efficient with the numbers of ineffective Crown court trials falling from 24 per cent. in 2002–03 to 16 per cent. in September 2004. The rate has reduced from 31 per cent. to 25 per cent. for the same period in the magistrates courts. The Department has also been involved in work to help people resolve their disputes in the most effective way, including pilots to test the effectiveness of court-based mediation. During 2004 there was a reduction from almost 49 per cent. to 41 per cent. in those cases that had eventually to be resolved by a hearing. Another area where pilots were used successfully was for all postal voting in four regions of England at the combined European and local elects in June 2004. Voter turnout doubled in the pilot regions compared with 1999.
	The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to all of that activity is not collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, the information requested in the question cannot be provided in the form requested except at a disproportionate cost. However, statistical information about the Department's activities can be found at http://www.dca.gov.uk/statistics/statfr.htm as well as at www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
	An example of the information available on those sites is data on persistent young offenders. The average number of days from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced between August and October 2004 was 51 days in the Dorset criminal justice area, which covers the constituency of West Dorset. This compares with 135 days in the 1997 calendar year.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Folkestone and Hythe constituency, the effects on Folkestone and Hythe of the Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is the Government Department responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy. The Department's aim is to provide for effective and accessible justice for all, to ensure the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, and to modernise the law and constitution.
	Currently, the Department has six strategic objectives, which cover the delivery of justice, civil and administrative law, protecting the vulnerable, modernising the constitution, increasing consumer choice and working in partnership with the independent judiciary. The Department also has seven Public Service Agreement targets to help deliver its strategic objectives.
	Examples of the activity in 2004 to deliver these objectives include work with partners to make sure criminal trials are more efficient with the numbers of ineffective Crowncourt trials falling from 24 per cent. in 2002–03 to 16 per cent. in September 2004. The rate has reduced from 31 per cent. to 25 per cent. for the same period in the magistrates courts. The Department has also been involved in work to help people resolve their disputes in the most effective way, including pilots to test the effectiveness of court-based mediation. During 2004 there was a reduction from almost 49 per cent. to 41 per cent. in those cases that had eventually to be resolved by a hearing. Another area where pilots were used successfully was for all postal voting in four regions of England at the combined European and local elections in June 2004. Voter turnout doubled in the pilot regions compared with 1999.
	The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to all of that activity is not collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, the information requested in the question cannot be provided in the form requested except at a disproportionate cost. However, statistical information about the Department's activities can be found at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/statistics/statfr.htm as well as at www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
	An example of the information available on those sites is data on persistent young offenders. The average number of days from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced between August and October 2004 was 74 days in the Kent criminal justice area, which covers the constituency of Folkestone and Hythe. This compares with 121 days in the 1997 calendar year.

Domestic Violence Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will take steps to prevent personal cross-examination of victims by an alleged domestic violence perpetrator in (a) Crown court trials and (b) family court proceedings.

Christopher Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of13 December 2004, Official Report, column 872W. There are no plans at present to legislate to prevent cross-examination of a witness by a defendant in the criminal court, or by a respondent in the family court.
	Section 36 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 already gives the court discretion to prevent cross-examination by a defendant in person in criminal proceedings, if it appears to the court that the quality of the evidence given by the witness is likely to be diminished by such examination. The wide discretion afforded judges in hearing family proceedings gives them sufficient powers to ensure that victims can be protected from intrusive and unfair questioning by the respondent in family proceedings. They can offer assistance in how questions are framed and evidence is presented. The judge also has an inherent power to refuse to admit evidence at a trial if he considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Ministerial Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent on official ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: My Department has spent the following amounts on ministerial stationery in the last two years. No central figures are held prior to April 2003 and to obtain them would incur a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  2003–04 2004–05(3) 
		
		
			 Business cards 267.75 535.50 
			 Headed paper 1,145.80 242.20 
			 Compliment slips 91.50 61.00 
		
	
	(3)The figure for financial year 2004–05 is a year to date figure to the 8 February 2005.
	The reduction in expenditure in the 2004–05 year to date figure for headed paper is due to the introduction of electronic templates.

Mobile Phones

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Total cost for mobile phones for my Department which covers costs for the Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office and my Department's headquarters, was £72,000 in 1998–99, £225,000 in 1999–2000, £202,000 in 2000–01, £223,000 in 2001–02, £267,000 in 2002- 03, £296,000 in 2003–04 and £241,000 in 2004–05 (up to 31 December).
	Information on 1997–98 is not readily available.

Principal Registry Judgments

Evan Harris: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of judgments made by district judges in the Principal Registry (a) went to appeal and (b) were successful or partially successful on appeal in the last year for which figures are available.

Christopher Leslie: The total number of cases dealt with by a district judge in the Principal Registry since April 2004 was 32,327 of which there were 73 appeals. The outcome of appeal hearings is not recorded centrally, and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Queen's Flight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on how many occasions the Department's Ministers used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years.

Christopher Leslie: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has used the Queens Flight on three occasions—once in 2001 and twice in 2003.
	No other Minister in the former Lord Chancellor Department or the Department for Constitutional Affairs have used the Queens flight.
	Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or Parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers, costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the list are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course.
	All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Staff Identity Passes

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Records of the number of lost or stolen identity passes were not kept until 2003 within my Department and the same year applies to the Wales Office. As a result, in 2003 113 passes were reported lost and 16 stolen from within my Department and none were reported as lost or stolen in the Wales Office. In 2004 to date, 140 passes have been reported lost in my Department and 13 stolen and in the Wales Office, five have been reported lost.
	A new identity and access system was introduced in my Department in 2004 and as a result the cost of producing a pass is approximately £6.32 per pass. A similarly new system was introduced in the Wales Office in May 2003, with a cost of £6.04 per pass. Both costs have been established by identifying the cost of the equipment and the number of identity passes produced.
	When a security pass is issued staff are required to sign a register confirming receipt and where appropriate return any old pass. When passes are lost or stolen all staff are requested to inform the Department as soon as possible and appropriate steps are taken to reduce the risk of unauthorised access into any of the Department's buildings.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether cattle in the early pre-patent stage of bovine tuberculosis may shed significant numbers of infectious organisms and thereby contributeto the spread of the disease by cattle to cattle spread.

Ben Bradshaw: It is rare for cattle in the pre-reactor" stage of bovine tuberculosis (TB) (when the animal is not yet able to react to the skin test) to excrete Mycobacterium bovis.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if, following the outcome of the four counties study of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland, she will abandon the Krebs trials and adopt proactive controls on badger hotspot areas where there is significant incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle;
	(2)  under what circumstances she would consider abandoning the Krebs trials.

Ben Bradshaw: We have made it clear that we are prepared to consider a badger culling policy but only if the available scientific evidence supports this as a cost-effective and sustainable solution. We welcome the report of the Irish Four Area Culling Trial and have sought independent scientific advice on whether the findings are readily translatable to the situation in Great Britain. The advice we receive will be published on the Defra website.
	The Irish Government are not changing their policy, believing that the type of proactive badger removal carried out in the Four Counties Study to be unviable.
	At present, we have no plans to abandon the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. Significant results from the reactive element of the trial, notified to Ministers by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), led to suspension of culling in the reactive treatment areas in November 2003. The ISG has undertaken to bring any significant results from the proactive element of the trial to Ministers' attention without delay. The ISG has advised that trial operations should be complete in early 2006 with final data analysis commencing shortly thereafter.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has conducted on the possible use of polymerase chain reaction portable laboratories for the detection of bovine tuberculosis in badgers, their excretions or material contaminated by them.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra is not currently conducting research using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) portable laboratories for the detection of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in badgers.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of whether the conclusion of the four counties study on bovine tuberculosis in Ireland that reducing the badger population controls bovine tuberculosis is applicable to the UK;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for the differences in the outcomes between the four counties study of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland and the Krebs trial results so far reported;
	(3)  what the significant differences are between the four counties study on bovine tuberculosis in Ireland and the Krebs trial;
	(4)  what assessment her Department has made of the four counties study on bovine tuberculosis in Ireland;
	(5)  if she will make a statement on the implications for control of bovine tuberculosis in England and Wales of the findings of the four counties study on bovine tuberculosis in Ireland regarding the effect of proactive culling of badgers on the rate at which herds become subject to a confirmed restriction.

Ben Bradshaw: We welcome the report of the Irish Four Area Culling Trial and are considering the implications of this work for bovine TB control in GB. We have sought advice from both the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB and the Godfray Group on whether the findings are readily translatable to the situation in Great Britain. The advice we receive will be published on the Defra website.
	The data from the Irish Four Area Culling Trial will form part of the evidence base used in the models which we propose to utilise to assess potential policy options for the future, under the new bovine TB Strategy which we aim to publish shortly.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many herds in Cumbria, where purchased animals were introduced, cattle to cattle spread of bovine tuberculosis infection was judged by her officials to have occurred within the herd during 2004.

Ben Bradshaw: Seven of the 16 confirmed bovine tuberculosis breakdowns disclosed in Cumbria during 2004, were judged, by the Veterinary Officer, to have been introduced through purchased stock. This number is provisional pending culture results for incidents disclosed in the last quarter of 2004.
	Three of the seven breakdowns were traced to purchased stock involving a single purchased reactor animal. In the remaining four breakdowns, all of the reactors taken in the incident were purchased and did not include cattle which were not cattle born onto the holding in Cumbria. However, the possibility that transmission between one introduced animal and another when they were in Cumbria cannot be excluded.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether analyses of TB99 returns provide data on the number of tuberculosis breakdowns attributable to (a) cattle to cattle spread and (b) badger to cattle transmission.

Ben Bradshaw: No. Given the way the questions in the TB99 questionnaire were framed it is not possible to ascribe the relationship between cause and effect to particular risk factors, nor clearly attribute factors to a risk from cattle or wildlife. What the analyses do identify are the probabilities associated with certain risk factors.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which the spread of tuberculosis by infected cattle in the re-stocking period immediately after foot and mouth disease was eradicated in the UK during 2001 was influenced by the absence of pre-movement tuberculosis restrictions in cattle herds.

Ben Bradshaw: We are aware that cattle to cattle spread of bovine TB has taken place as a result of restocking following foot and mouth disease and Defra is funding research, by Warwick University, that aims to (i) identify and estimate risk factors associated with the introduction of bovine TB in restocked farms and (ii) model transmission dynamics within cattle populations. The modelling work will take account of the exposure of cattle to badgers. The research project is due to end in 2006 and results will be published on the Defra website.
	While no specific assessment has been made of the possible impact that pre-movement testing would have had on bovine TB in herds restocked following FMD, Government recognise that pre-movement TB testing is important as a mechanism to help prevent further spread of the disease. Defra's advice to farmers, published in the booklet 'TB in Cattle—Reducing the Risk', has always been to consider private TB testing and isolation of any animals bought in to a herd. This advisory booklet has been available to farmers, free of charge, since 1999. Officials are currently working with stakeholders to develop detailed proposals to make pre-movement TB testing of cattle from the areas of the country most badly affected by bovine TB compulsory.

Cattle Passport Scheme

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average period of late receipt was for applications refused on the grounds of lateness under the British Cattle Movement Service Cattle Passport Scheme in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will introduce a grace period to take account of delays in the postal service as a cause of lateness.

Alun Michael: In the year 2004, the average period of late receipt for cattle passport applications was 207 days. This figure is surprisingly high, because of a fairly small number of applications that were received many months or even years late.
	It may be more helpful to explain that 50 per cent. of applications that were refused because of late application were received up to seven days late. 8 per cent. were between eight and 14 days late. A further 18 per cent. were up to six months late. 24 per cent. were over six months late, including some that were several years late.
	Approximately 20 per cent. of refused passports are subsequently issued following a successful appeal.
	The British Cattle Movement Service allows appeals on the grounds of postal delay only if the applicant can prove by independent evidence that he or she posted the application in good time.
	The Cattle Identification Regulations 1998 require that passports be refused when applications are received late. A comprehensive review of these regulations will be carried out shortly and possible changes to the procedures concerning late passport applications will be considered. However, it is important to maintain a system that encourages farmers to register cattle births promptly. The full and accurate traceability of cattle is essential for disease control, and for the protection of public and animal health and welfare.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure by her Department on all external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii)2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally, the Department spent £30.012 million on all external consultants in 2003–04. On current information, estimated costs on all external consultants in 2004–05 will be approximately £25.8 million. Estimates of expenditure on all external consultants cannot yet be provided because the Department has not yet completed its business planning for the next financial years.

Countryside Access

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many existing agri-environment scheme holders who provided access for walkers under the scheme are now ineligible to receive payment as a consequence of their land being mapped for access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and what the (a) area of land affected and the (b) effect on income of the agreement holders is.

Alun Michael: In the first three areas where the right of access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has come into force there are 25 holdings with agri-environment open access agreements on land mapped as access land. These agreements affect some 471 hectares of land and attract payments of £23,549.50 per annum.
	In addition, there are 11 holdings with agri-environment linear agreements and one holding with an agri-environment disabled access agreement on land mapped as access land in the first three areas. These affect 6,731 metres and 1,618 metres and attract payments of £3,028.95 and £1,698.90 per annum respectively.
	The Rural Development Service is in the process of renegotiating these agreements with the agreement holders.

Countryside Access

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of how many hectares of land mapped in areas one to four of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 mapping procedure fall within the definition of section 15 of thatAct.

Alun Michael: The amount of land mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in areas one to three, that falls within the definition of section 15, is 49,348.4 hectares. The right of access has not yet come into force in area four but the latest estimate is that this will involve a further 39,397 hectares.

Countryside Access

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of land mapped in areas one to four of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 mapping procedure are excepted land under Schedule 1 of that Act, as land the use of which is regulated by byelaws under section 14 of the Military Lands Act 1982 or section 2 of the Military Lands Act 1900.

Alun Michael: The total area of land mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in areas one to three—but excepted from the right of access by virtue of being regulated by byelaws under section 14 of the Military Lands Act 1982, or section 2 of the Military Lands Act 1900—is 27,337.3 hectares. The right of access has not yet come into force in area four but the latest estimate is that this will involve a further 11,968.6 hectares.

Countryside Access

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of land mapped in areas one to four of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has had a restriction or closure applied for under section 28 of that Act for defence or national security; and how many hectares have as a result had a restriction or closure granted under the provisions of the Act.

Alun Michael: The total area of land mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in areas one to three, which is subject to a restriction or closure under Section 28 of that Act, is 505.5 hectares. The right of access has not yet come into force in area four but the latest estimate is that this will involve a further 178.8 hectares.

Countryside Access

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the original estimate for the cost of the consultation, mapping and appeals and other associated costs for the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 was; and what has been the actual cost to date.

Alun Michael: Defra is funding the Countryside Agency, National Park Authorities and the Planning Inspectorate to implement Part I of the Act throughout the whole of England by the end of 2005. The Countryside Agency's estimate at the end of 2000 for its total costs in implementing the new right of access was £28 million over four years. The agency has so far spent £38.83 million, consisting of £0.75 million in 1999–2000; £0.92 million in 2000–01; £5.17 million in 2001–02; £8.30 million in 2002–03; £13.25 million in 2003–04 and £10.44 million to date in 2004–05. National Park Authorities have been allocated an additional £4.725 million, consisting of £0.875 million in 2002–03; £2.0 million in 2003/04 and £1.85 million in 2004–05. We have also funded the Planning Inspectorate to deal with appeals against the inclusion of land on provisional maps and restriction appeals of £0.11 million in 2001–02; £0.84 million in 2002–03 and £1.20 million in 2003–04. The Planning Inspectorate has spent £1.23 million in the current financial year. Local authorities have been funded to establish local access forums under Part V of the Act.

Countryside Access

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funds have so far been allocated to the Access Management Grant Scheme; how much to date has been spent; and how much will be available for the grant scheme proposed to run until 2006–07.

Alun Michael: £2 million has been allocated to the Countryside Agency for the Access Management Grant Scheme in 2004–05. £547,462 has been spent on the scheme to date, with a further £709,503 committed to fund access authorities for work which they are due to complete before the end of this financial year. The scheme has been extended to March 2007, but the level of funding for the next two years has not been finalised.

Dairy Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she nextplans to meet dairy farmers to discuss farmgate prices.

Alun Michael: Price negotiation between producers and processors, or processors and supermarkets is a private commercial matter in which the Government cannot and should not get involved, provided competition rules are respected. However, Ministers frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues.

Dairy Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the averagefarm gate price paid to farmers in Lancashire for milk is.

Alun Michael: We have data covering the United Kingdom as a whole, but we do not hold milk price information for specific areas of the UK. The average price for milk delivered in December 2004 (the mostrecent month for which figures are available) is 19.12 pence per litre.

Dairy Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average herd size is of dairy farms in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Alun Michael: The following figures show the average herd size in June 2003 on holdings where dairy was the predominant activity. The herd numbers include all cattle on the holding.
	
		
			  Average herd size 
		
		
			 (a) Lancashire (comprising Lancashire CC, Blackpool UA , Blackburn with Darwen UA) 168  
			   
			 (b) Chorley 144 
		
	
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the ministerial design champion for her Department is.

Alun Michael: The ministerial design champion for Defra is Alun Michael, Minister of State (Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality).

E-mails

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the deletion of e-mails by her Department; when this policy last changed; and how.

Alun Michael: Guidance issued from the Head of the Home Civil Service to all departments in July 2004 provided a clear cross-departmental approach to the handling of e-mail correspondence, and a copy is available in the Library of the House.

Equine Breeding

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the European Union institutions (a) have made and (b) are considering legislation requiring coloured ponies born to any sire or dam that are registered with any of the equine breed societies to be eligible to be included in the breed standard register, if the owner so desires; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The rules relating to the eligibility for entry into recognised equine studbooks are essentially a matter for the individual equine studbook Societies to decide. However, their requirements must not be contrary to the rules contained in Commission Decision 96/78/EC—laying down the criteria for entry and registration of equidae" in stud-books for breeding purposes. We are not aware of any intention on the part of the European Commission to amend this legislation.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on Implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The EU Committee on the implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water met at the European Commission buildings in Brussels twice during the Irish presidency on 15 March 2004 and 28 May 2004; and once during the Dutch presidency on 28 October 2004. No meetings took place under the Italian presidency.
	The UK Government were represented on the above occasions by water quality officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scottish Executive.

Exercise Triton

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the results of Exercise Triton will be published.

Elliot Morley: As advised in my answer to you recently in relation to your question about contingency planning, The Environment Agency, with other responders, carries out a regular programme of exercises to test its capability at all levels. Last year's Exercise Triton, was conducted to test the preparedness of organisations at all levels, local, regional and national to a simulated national scale event involving flooding of the east coast from Lincolnshire to Hampshire, with offsets in Gwent and North Wales. A lessons identified report will be published in the spring.

Farm Support

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department has introduced since 1997 to support farming.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
	Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food
	The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food was launched in December 2002. It builds on the work of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food and is a comprehensive and long-term plan for the future development of the industry. It identifies how the Government will work with the whole of the food chain to secure a Sustainable future for English farming andfood industries, as viable industries contributing to a better environment and healthy and prosperous communities.
	In practical terms the Strategy means:
	industry, government and consumers working together to secure a more positive future for the industry;
	helping farmers add value by reconnecting with their customers;
	providing good quality assured food that consumers want;
	improving co-operation within the food chain and improving its performance across the board;
	helping farmers secure the right training and advice to develop their businesses and spread best practice; and
	protecting the environment and rewarding farmers for providing environmental goods.
	Much progress has already been made in implementing the Strategy, most notably through:
	CAP Reform deal agreed in June 2003.
	Preparation for launch of a new agri-environment scheme, Environmental Stewardship in the spring this year. The scheme will include Entry Level Environmental Stewardship (ELS), which is open to all farmers. Higher Level Environmental Stewardship and Organic Entry Level Environmental Stewardship.
	Launch of Pilot for Whole Farm Approach. The approach will deliver a range of benefits to both farmers and regulators. For the farmer it will reduce duplication and repeat requests for information, allow participants to understand how new standards and regulations may impact on their business as well as providing direct access to guidance and targeted information which will improve business performance.
	Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, Implementation Plan and Evidence Base & launched on 24 June 2004. The Strategy was launched to set out a sustainable future for Animal Health and Welfare, explaining the vision and how this is to be achieved over the next 10 years. Veterinary Surveillance Strategy and revised Scrapie Strategy under the AHW Strategy also published.
	A Pilot demonstration farms network has been set up.
	Launch of a new Food Chain Centre to encourage greater efficiency in the UK food chain.
	Launch of English Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP)—to drive increased co-operation between farmers and between farmers and the rest of the food chain.
	Key grants given under the new Agriculture Development Schemes, including awards to EFFP, Food Chain Centre and the Red Meat Industry Forum—to deliver improvements in competitiveness.
	Launch of a programme of support for quality regional food and drinks.
	Launch of a Sustainable Food Procurement Initiative to encourage public sector purchasers to buy food in a manner which promotes sustainable development.
	The Research Priorities Group set up and the Applied Research Forum launched to ensure better co-ordination of, and support for, research and science in farming and food.
	Red Meat Industry Forum—set up to deliver improvements in competitiveness in the red meat sector.
	Non Food Crops centre is up and running and was launched on 24 November 2003.
	Non-food crops strategy—On November 5 2004 Lord Whitty launched a joint Defra/DTI long-term strategy to create more demand for and use of renewable raw materials made from non-food crops. It is aimed at increasing commercial opportunities, stimulating innovation, cutting waste and environmental damage, and protecting precious natural resources.
	A new chairman appointed to take forward AFS 2003 (Assured Food Standards).
	Regulation—A new unit has been set up within the Department to look at regulation specifically from the farmer's point of view.
	Benchmarking—Farm business benchmarking online database launched in 2004.
	Animal Health
	OTMS—on 1 December 2004 the start of a managed transition towards the lifting of the OTM rule and its replacement with a system of robust testing of cattle for BSE was announced. An essential first step will be the establishment of a robust and independently audited testing regime. Only cattle for which there is a negative test result will be sold for human consumption.
	Foot and Mouth Disease—Defra has conducted a major national exercise to test contingency plans in case of a future outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
	National Fallen Stock scheme—a guaranteed, biosecure, low-cost means of animal carcass disposal—came into effect on 22 November 2004. The Government are providing £10 million in the first year to allow the National Fallen Stock Company to pay 30 per cent. of the costs of collection and disposal of fallen farmed stock.
	TB—Announced new measures on 1 November 2004 to tighten surveillance and reduce the risk of bovine TB spreading to new areas. These include changes to testing frequency and the imposition of movement restrictions immediately a test becomes overdue.
	ERDP
	The England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) is principally aimed at the farming industry and provides a framework for the operation of 10 separate but integrated schemes which provide new opportunities to protect and improve the countryside, to develop sustainable enterprises and to help rural communities to thrive.
	The ERDP implements the European Rural Development Regulation—also known as the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy. A total of £1.6 billion of EU and Government money is being made available under these schemes in England during the seven years (2000–06) of the Programme.
	The ERDP aims to:
	significantly increase the area covered by schemes to conserve and improve the environment and maintain the sustainable management of the uplands through the following land-based schemes:
	Hill Farm Allowance
	Countryside Stewardship Scheme
	Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme
	Organic Farming Scheme
	Woodland Grant Scheme
	Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
	Energy Crops Scheme
	assist the creation of more diverse and competitive agricultural and forestry sectors and jobs in the countryside, encourage the development of new products and markets and greater collaboration, and provide training to support these new activities through the following project-based schemes:
	Rural Enterprise Scheme
	Processing and Marketing Grant
	Vocational Training Scheme
	The Objective 1 Programme
	Complementing the ERDP is the Objective 1 programme, part of the European Structural Funds. The Objective 1 programme runs from 1 January 2000 until 31 December 2006 and covers the areas of the EU, which have incomes below 75 per cent. of the EU15 average.
	In England, three areas have been designated to receive funding under Objective 1: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Merseyside and South Yorkshire.
	There are a number of European funds that can be drawn upon by those in Objective 1 areas and Defra, in collaboration with Government Offices is responsible for delivering the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. This fund has the following objectives:
	to help to preserve the link between agriculture and the land;
	to improve and support the competitiveness of agriculture as a key activity in rural areas;
	to ensure diversification of activities in rural areas;
	to help retain people in rural areas; and
	to preserve and improve the environment, the landscape and our rural heritage.
	Across the 3 Objective 1 areas, approximately £133 million is available over the period 2000–06 for supporting projects which have similar aims to the three ERDP project-based schemes mentioned.
	Farm Business Advice Service
	The Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) was launched in October 2000 aimed at improving farm business profitability and sustainability. The service has provided farmers in England with up to three days of free one-to-one on-farm advice. Since its launch, the Government have invested around £28 million in FBAS helping over 18,000 farmers.
	An enhanced 5-day form of the service was introduced between 2001 and 2003 as part of the recovery package announced for farmers who have had stock compulsorily slaughtered due to foot and mouth disease control measures.
	The service was initially launched as a four year service but it was extended for a further year through to March 2005 to help farmers consider the business implications of the impending changes introduced under CAP reform.
	New arrangements for the provision of specialist advice to assist farm businesses explore the implications of the introduction of the single payment will be made available in 2005–06 and we will be making an announcement on the detail as soon as possible.
	RDS Farm Advice Unit
	This new Unit has been set up to oversee delivery of technical and environmental advice to farmers, for example on minimising pollution or conservation to meet the requirements of cross-compliance. There is a Farm Advice Co-ordinator based in each region.
	The Planning Consultancy Advice Scheme
	The Planning Consultancy Advice Scheme offered to cover the cost of one day's professional planning guidance for farmers considering diversifying their farm business and was implemented in September 2001.
	Fresh Start Initiative
	An industry-led initiative to encourage new entrants into the farming industry was launched at the Smithfield Show on 2 December 2004, with strong Government support.

Food Miles

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of food miles on (a) congestion on the roads and (b) the environment, through emissions of greenhouse gases from modes of transport used; and what assessment she has made of the effects on the environment of production local to the place of sale.

Alun Michael: Further to my response of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 943W, the report commissioned by Defra on the impact of food transportation The Validity of Food Miles as an Indicator of Sustainable Development" is now likely to be published early in the summer. I will write to my hon. Friend to inform him when the report is published.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what actions were taken by the UK authorities in regard to the November 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in Mpumalanga that were not taken in regard to the September 2000 foot and mouth outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal;
	(2)  what actions were taken by the UK authorities in specific regard to the September 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal;
	(3)  what actions on the part of the UK authorities were (a) required and (b) recommended by the European Union with specific regard to the September 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal; and when these were implemented.

Margaret Beckett: If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health, European Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of meat from all, or parts, of that country. At the time of the outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal, we did not judge it necessary to take safeguard action since the South African authorities had prohibited the issue of export certificates for fresh meat from the area in which the outbreak had occurred. This meant that exports from South Africa could not take place.
	On 7–8 November 2000 the European Commission informed the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) (now known as the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health) of the outcome of an inspection carried out in South Africa by Commission inspectors, and indicated that safeguard measures may be necessary because of some difficulties the South African authorities were experiencing in dealing with the outbreak. On 25 November the Commission published legislation prohibiting imports into the Community of fresh meat from 16 districts in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Government were satisfied that the action taken by the Commission and controls in place in South Africa were sufficient to prevent any risk of disease entering the UK.
	By 20 December it was clear that the situation in South Africa had deteriorated. The Government reviewed the situation and a decision was taken to take safeguard action. This was delayed due to the Christmas period, and on 5 January the Government issued a Declaration under Regulation 35 of the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996, prohibiting imports into England and Wales of meat from all of South Africa. Similar action was taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The outbreak in Mpumalanga was confirmed on 30 November. The Commission took action in February 2001 to extend EU restrictions on imports of meat in respect of Mpumalanga. By that time, the UK had already banned imports of meat from the whole country, so no further action was necessary.

Foot and Mouth

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department was first informed that Northumberland Trading Standards had (a) mounted an investigation into and (b) filed charges against the haulier who delivered unprocessed waste food to Burnside Farm, Heddon on the Wall.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is unaware of any investigation or prosecution by Northumberland Trading Standards Department of any haulier (other than Robert Waugh) who may have delivered unprocessed waste food to Burnside Farm.

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) a selection of the information disclosed in response to Freedom of Information requests since January.

Alun Michael: Defra plans to publish all such information on its website unless it is considered that the information is unlikely to be of interest to a wider public audience. This is in accordance with the Guidance on Publication Schemes, issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in July 2002, recommended that where information is disclosed to an individual in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, Departments and NDPBs should consider whether the information disclosed is of general interest and include released information in the Publication Scheme where appropriate.

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what applications were made to her Department during January under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; what the (a) total and (b) average cost was of discovery and distribution of the information requested; how many requests were answered within the statutory 20-day period; and what reasons were given to those whose requests were rejected.

Alun Michael: The number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations recorded on our central tracking system during January was 97. This does not include the many routine requests for information to which the Department responds as part of its normal business. During January, 28 of the 97 requests, were answered within the 20 working day deadline. The deadline has not yet been reached in respect of those requests received from mid January onwards.
	Two of the 28 answered cases were refused and onepartially refused. The grounds for refusal were section 40 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act and Regulations 12(3) (personal data) and 12(4)(d) (unfinished documents or incomplete data) of the Environmental Information Regulations.
	We do not have information on the total and averagecost of locating and providing the information requested.

Sustainable Development (India)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent communications Ministers in her Department have had with counterparts in India on (a) sustainable development and (b) environmental scientific co-operation.

Elliot Morley: I visited New Delhi from 3 to 6 February to attend the fifth Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, where I chaired and spoke at a ministerial session on 'Global Sustainability: Challenges for Developed and Developing Countries'. In my remarks, I noted the increasing interdependence of countries on issues of sustainable development and the need for co-operation and partnership. I focussed on the opportunities afforded by the UK Presidencies of the G8and EU in 2005 to address climate change and development challenges in Africa.
	I also met my counterpart, Mr. Raja, the Indian Minister for the Environment and Forests, to discuss India's draft New Environment Policy, co-operation on forests and wildlife protection and progress on the UK—India High-level Sustainable Development Dialogue.
	Defra is funding a collaborative project with the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests on the impacts of climate change. Work started in September 2001 and the final reports will be published during 2005. The research programme included the sharing of knowledge through technology transfer and capacity building, with collaboration between scientist in Indian and UK research institutes. The project outputs were presented to me when I visited India in February 2004 and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State during her visit in October 2004.
	The Department plans to take forward further work in this area as part of the collaboration envisaged under the UK and Indian Prime Ministers' September 2004 joint declaration committing to further co-operation between the two countries.

Ministerial Visits

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what ministerial visits are planned for each Minister in her Department in the next six months; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: For reasons of security, it would not be appropriate to disclose the information requested.

Ministerial Visits

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what ministerial visits are planned for each Minister in her Department in the next six months; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: For reasons of security, it would not be appropriate to disclose the information requested.

Mobile Phones

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the costof staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The following table shows the expenditure in fiscal years since the Department was formed in 2001.
	
		
			  Mobile phones (£000) 
		
		
			 2001–02 2,629 
			 2002–03 839 
			 2003–04 666

New Rural Agency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in her Department and agencies (a) are and (b) will be fully or partly employed in preparing for the merger of English Nature with parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Many members of staff across the Department and its Agencies are contributing, to the successful creation of an integrated agency as part of their normal duties. This will be achieved through the merger of English Nature with parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. The level of involvement varies between individuals according to their specific roles.
	The detailed activities involved in establishing an integrated agency are being co-ordinated by a dedicated project team consisting of people from across the three organisations, as well as from within core Defra. The project team consists of 23 people working on the project either full time, or for a significant part of their time. This number is planned to increase to 28 from April 2005.
	In addition, a team has been established within Defrato ensure the overall successful implementation of the Modernising Rural Delivery programme, of which establishment of an integrated agency forms a significant part. This team comprises 34 members of staff.
	As the establishment of the new agency progresses, there will be increasing involvement from additional members of staff. In due course, all those employed by the three organisations who will join the integrated agency will be involved to some extent.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on postage by the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The information set out in the following table details postage costs for Defra's London and Guildford HQ sites from 2000–01, when Defra came into existence.
	
		£
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 London 
			 Post and courier 396,069 447,268 209,240 248,334 
			 Inter departmental service 95,313 93,373 94,640 96,853 
			 Total 491,382 540,641 303,880 345,187 
			  
			 Guildford 
			 Post and courier 10,000 7,500 8,500 9,000 
			  
			 Grand Total 501,382 548,141 312,380 354,187

REACH Directive

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the REACH (Chemicals) Directive on UK industry; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Government have worked with all stakeholders to ensure that the REACH proposal is well focused on achieving maximum practical benefit to human health and the environment with a minimum of direct impact on industrial competitiveness. In particular, our proposal for 'one substance, one registration' is intended to lower costs to industry as well as improving the consistency of information available on chemicals across Europe and keeping animal testing to a minimum. We have recently completed a study which indicates that, if 'one substance, one registration' were to be adopted, the cost to industry and the authorities of REACH would be decreased by at least €77 million in comparison to the Commission estimates on the basis of the current proposals.
	The UK partial regulatory impact assessment is based on the current proposals and primarily reflects the direct costs to industry of REACH which are estimated at £515 million over the 11-year phase in period. This is equivalent to total direct costs across the EU of approximately £2.4 billion. These are in line with European Commission estimates published in October 2003 of a maximum overall cost of the revised proposal (including indirect costs) of €7.5 billion. We are currently carrying out further impact assessment work to assess the indirect costs passed down the supply chain.

Rural Payments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Rural Payments Agency to start making payments under the Single Farm Payment.

Alun Michael: The payment window for the Single Payment Scheme is 1 December 2005 to 30 June 2006. The objective has always been to make as many payments as early as practicable within that window.
	The Rural Payments Agency issued a news release on 19 January confirming that the most probable date for payments to start is February 2006.

Rural Policy

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the terms of reference of the agency to be created by the merger of English Nature and parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service.

Alun Michael: The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill was published in draft on 10 February 2005. Among other things this Bill contains provisions to establish the new Agency and set out its purpose. Copies of the draft Bill have been placed in the Vote Office.

Sewage Discharge (River Thames)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of sewage were discharged into the River Thames in the last five years, broken down by water utility; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: It is important to draw a distinction between treated and untreated sewerage discharges. Treated effluent discharges from sewage treatment works and some intermittent discharges from overflows during wet weather are measured in cubic metres. Discharges consented by the Environment Agency are made to the Thames by three water companies: Thames Water (inland and estuary); Anglian Water and Southern Water (estuary only).
	Thames Water
	Thames Water reports it has discharged an estimated 4,800 million cubic metres of sewage effluent to the Thames in the last five years. Of this, 4,500 million cubic metres receives secondary treatment. Some of this effluent also receives more stringent treatment at Abingdon, Little Marlow and Windsor's sewage treatment works, which discharge to the freshwater section of the Thames. Approximately, 100 million cubic metres will have been treated storm sewage from treatment works, and the remaining 200 million cubic metres as untreated storm sewage (sewage and rainwater run-off). It is estimated that about 30 per cent. of storm sewage is discharged unmeasured.
	I provided a breakdown of this information in a written answer to a similar question from the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker), on 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1111W.
	Anglian Water
	The consented daily dry weather effluent flows, which receive secondary treatment prior to discharge, from three sewage works operated by Anglian Water are 95,514 cubic metres. As it is generally accepted that average daily flows are 1.25 times the dry weather flow, it is estimated that 218 million cubic metres of treated effluent has been discharged from these works (Canvey Island, Southend and Tilbury) in the last five years.
	Southern Water
	Southern Water discharges effluent after it has received secondary treatment from two sites (Gravesend and Northfleet). In the last five years (2000–04) the sewage treatment works at Gravesend has discharged approximately 19 million cubic metres of treated effluent. Since April 2001, when flow monitors were installed at the Northfleet sewage works approximately 12.5 million cubic metres of treated effluent has been discharge to the end of 2004.
	Storm sewage is discharged to the Thames at three sites at times of unusually heavy rainfall when the capacity of sewerage system is exceeded. The consents for these storm overflows do not require Southern Water to monitor the volume of discharges that occur.

Social Enterprises

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make explicit reference in departmental plans and publications to enabling a wider role to be played by social enterprises in delivering her Department's environmental agenda.

Elliot Morley: Defra's Five Year Strategy, Delivering the Essentials of Life", set out our commitment to supporting social enterprise in rural areas. Building on that, we will shortly publish a position statement, Defra and Social Enterprise", which will reflect the contribution of the sector to Defra's wider policy objectives, including sustainable development and environmental protection. The statement will reflect the contribution which social enterprises already make to delivering a range of environmental objectives, including those on waste management, renewable energy, and natural resource protection. It will also set out our plans to contribute to the continued growth of the sector. The position statement is the latest stage in a programme of work to embed support for social enterprise in the development of Defra's policies.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the contracts signed by her special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

Staff Identity Passes

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: Since the creation of Defra in June 2001 the following figures are available for lost and stolen passes. These passes are programmed electronically and once a loss is reported the pass is cancelled immediately. This greatly reduces the possibility of anyone using it illegally to enter Defra premises. The cost to produce an electronic photographic pass is approximately 10 (staff time and material). The sharp increase in lost passes in the core Department is in part due to the larger numbers of passes issued to contractors' staff refurbishing buildings and losses by those staff.
	
		
			  Lost Stolen 
		
		
			 DEFRA Core Department 
			 2001 60 5 
			 2002 108 16 
			 2003 108 12 
			 2004 152 18 
			 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 
			 2001 n/a n/a 
			 2002 10 0 
			 2003 16 1 
			 2004 20 1 
			 Central Science Laboratory 
			 2001 12 0 
			 2002 14 0 
			 2003 11 0 
			 2004 15 0 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 
			 2001 5 0 
			 2002 8 1 
			 2003 6 0 
			 2004 7 0 
			 Rural Payments Agency 
			 2001 5 0 
			 2002 23 1 
			 2003 24 2 
			 2004 19 2 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 
			 2001 6 0 
			 2002 9 0 
			 2003 10 0 
			 2004 6 0

Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department and its predecessors spent on (a) stationery and (b) office supplies in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally, the Department's expenditure on stationery and office supplies are as set out in the table: £2,769,505; £1,516,873; £1,201,899 and £362,828 respectively. The Department's financial system does not classify stationery and office supplies as separate budgetary categories.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 2,769,505 
			 2002–03 1,516,873 
			 2003–04 1,201,899 
			 2004–05 362,828

Strawberries

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of methyl bromide in the strawberry growing sector, with particular reference to its ozone-depleting properties.

Alun Michael: Methyl bromide is an ozone depleting substance (ODS) that is now banned in developed countries under the Montreal Protocol and EC Regulation 2037/2000. The ozone depleting potential (ODP) of methyl bromide is 0.6, which is a representation of its ability to deplete ozone in comparison to a reference ODS, chlorofluorocarbon 11 (CFC 11).
	Following the ban on production, methyl bromide is only permitted to be produced for agreed critical uses, quarantine and pre-shipment and emergency purposes. The Government's policy on future use of methyl bromide is that its use should not be phased back in by excessive critical uses.
	The Montreal Protocol makes provision for critical use exemptions where there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives to methyl bromide. The UK applied to the Parties to the Montreal Protocol for a critical use exemption for use on strawberries, to allow additional limited time to bring alternatives on line. Following technical scrutiny by the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MBTOC) of the Montreal Protocol and the European Commission, the Commission have licensed some 30 tonnes of methyl bromide for critical uses for strawberries for 2005.

Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money is available in each region under the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy.

Alun Michael: The Government announced a sum of c£500 million to implement the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food as part of the 2002 Spending Review, in addition to existing spending by Defra and other Government Departments which is already being used to deliver aspects of the Strategy.
	The following table shows the actual spending in 2003–04 and the broad breakdown over the remainder of the Spending Review period. The majority of this funding is being used for overall delivery of national programmes, for which there is no regional breakdown, or programmes that will ultimately be delivered on a regional basis, but until full implementation is underway, regional figures are unavailable:
	
		£ million
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 Total 
		
		
			 Additional money to be made available via grant schemes 9 11 11 31 
			 Investment into research and new technology 1.8 1.8 1.8 5.4 
			 Development and implementation of new agri-environment and rural development schemes,  including IT development costs 27 54 151 232 
			 Development and implementation of new Whole Farm Approach to reduce bureaucracy and  burden on farmers 2.7 7 8 17.7 
			 IT systems to support livestock identification and tracing 20 48 68 136 
			 Investment to reduce the likelihood and impact of an animal disease outbreak 25 45 45 115 
			 Total537.1 
		
	
	Existing support programmes, including the ERDP have been targeted to assist in the delivery of SSFF outcomes. Budgets for the three ERDP project-based schemes are managed on a regional basis, and the following table summarises expenditure on these schemes in 2004–05.
	
		£ million
		
			 Region Processing and marketing grant Rural enterprise scheme(4) Vocational training scheme 
		
		
			 East Midlands 1.438 3.990 0.398 
			 East of England 1.757 2.699 0.545 
			 North East 0.251 2.159 0.075 
			 North West 1.011 3.686 0.921 
			 South East 0.830 2.670 0.498 
			 South West 1.320 5.512 0.689 
			 West Midlands 0.688 3.852 0.374 
			 Yorks and Humberside 0.816 3.233 0.293 
			 National  (5)0.685 (6)0.416 
		
	
	(4)RES funds are also available to non-farming businesses.
	(5)RES National marketing measure.
	(6)All national projects (four regions +).
	Regional delivery of the strategy, through regional action plans, will be facilitated by many public body and industry representatives and these organisations will work together with both resource and funding support to deliver the vision set out in the strategy. They are making use of Government grants, industry support and the resources of Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies, as well as other Government bodies participating in regional steering groups.
	Given the number of public and industry bodies contributing to regional delivery, it is not possible to quantify precisely the level of support available to fund regional delivery. Implementation of SFFS is one of the core tasks of the Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies, and their funding from Defra reflects this. Funding for the Government Offices are provided directly by Defra. The current Defra contribution of £45.5 million to the RDA 'single pot', administered by DTI, is to enable RDAs to address rural productivity issues, which are a key factor in achieving the outcomes of the national Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy. In addition, Defra has made a further £1.5 million available to the RDAs in the current financial year to assist with the implementation of regional delivery plans.

TREASURY

Cancer Statistics

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of deaths were due to cancer in the (a) North East, (b) South East, (c) North and (d) South in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of deaths are due to cancer in the (a) North East, (b) South East, (c) North and (d) South. I am replying in his absence. (215891)
	Figures are provided in the table below for the North East and South East Government Office Regions for 2003, the latest year for which data are available. As the Office for National Statistics does not have a geographic classification of administrative areas into 'North' and 'South', results are also provided for other Government Office Regions and Wales.
	
		Percentage of deaths due to cancer(7) by Government Office Region(8), 2003(9)
		
			 Government Office Region Percentage of deaths due to cancer 
		
		
			 North East 21 
			 North West 25 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 26 
			 East Midlands 25 
			 West Midlands 25 
			 East of England 26 
			 London 25 
			 South East 25 
			 South West 25 
			 Wales 25 
		
	
	(7)The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used are listed below:
	Cancer (malignant neoplasms)—ICD-10 COO-C97"
	(8)Usual residents of these areas.
	(9)Deaths occurring in 2003.

Child Trust Fund Accounts

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Inland Revenue to complete the necessary procedures to allow credit unions to accept child trust fund accounts.

Stephen Timms: Credit unions have an important part to play in tackling financial exclusion within the communities they serve. The Government is keen to accommodate the special nature of credit unions within the Child Trust Fund where possible. They are already able to make available a CTF stakeholder account to their customers where they have the FSA permissions to do so. However there are a number of issues to be resolved before credit unions can offer cash deposit accounts. Discussions have taken place between credit unions, the Treasury, the FSA and the Inland Revenue and work is being taken forward.
	The Child Trust Fund is intended to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit. It will ensure that every child born since 1 September, whatever their family background, will have access to a stock of assets from the age of 18, so they can invest in their future.
	It will also help children and their parents to understand the benefits of savings and investment and how to engage with financial institutions.

Credit Unions

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) whether existing credit unions will be included for support under the Social Fund loan scheme referred to in the report on Promoting Financial Inclusion;
	(2)  how the Social Fund loan scheme monies referred to in the report on Promoting Financial Inclusion will be apportioned; and which institutions will qualify for inclusion.

Stephen Timms: 'Promoting financial inclusion' announced a series of measures to increase the availability of affordable credit to those on the lowest incomes. These measures include the next steps in the reform of the Social Fund. The Government will abolish the 'double debt' rule for Budgeting Loans eligibility and will lower the highest loan repayment rates. These reforms will be implemented in April 2006 and amount to an increase in funding for the Social Fund loans scheme of £210 million over the three years to 2008–09.
	'Promoting financial inclusion' also announced thatthe Government are considering arrangements whereby, in certain circumstances, private and third sector lenders—including existing credit unions—could apply for repayment to be made by deduction from benefit where normal repayment arrangements have broken down. The aim of this scheme would be to reduce some of the increased costs and risks of lending to vulnerable groups. The Government have been seeking responses from private and third sector lenders, on this scheme. However no final decisions have been made as to whether and how the scheme will operate.
	Subject to any necessary state aids clearance from the European Commission, the Government will also set up a growth fund for third sector lenders from within the Financial Inclusion Fund. This growth fund will be available to credit unions and community development finance institutions to boost the coverage, capacity and sustainability of the sector in providing a source of affordable credit for the financially excluded.

Defence Contractors

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aldershot of 13 January 2005, Official Report, column 595W, on defence contractors, which (a) military units and (b) defence contractors he personally visited in 2004.

Gordon Brown: holding answer 27 January 2005
	I regularly hold defence-related meetings including meeting regularly with defence employers and with senior military personnel such as the Chiefs of Staff and their colleagues.

Departmental Policies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out (a) with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Chorley constituency and (b) the effect of his actions and policies on Chorley since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 designed to better the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, the economic performance of the Chorley constituency has improved considerably. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 56 per cent. while long-term unemployment and long-term youth unemployment have both fallen by 89 per cent.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Haltemprice and Howden constituency, the effects on Haltemprice and Howden of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Timms: The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 designed to better the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, the economic performance of the Haltemprice and Howden constituency has improved considerably. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 51 per cent., long-term unemployment has fallen by 70 per cent. and long-term youth unemployment has fallen by 83 per cent.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maidenhead constituency, the effects on Maidenhead of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Timms: The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 designed to better the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, the economic performance of the Maidenhead constituency has improved considerably. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 30.5 per cent., long-term unemployment has fallen by 58 per cent. and youth unemployment has remained unchanged albeit at only 30 individuals.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neiqhbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./.

Departmental Policies

Dari Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each ward of Stockton, South are (a) employed and (b) unemployed; and what the figures were in 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Ms Dari Taylor, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about employment and unemployment in each ward of Stockton South Parliamentary Constituency. I am replying in his absence. (215308)
	Regular statistics of employment and unemployment are compiled from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) on the basis of standard international definitions. For individual wards the LFS sample sizes are too small to provide estimates, but information is available from the 1991 and 2001 Population Censuses. Table 1 overleaf shows the information requested from these sources.
	The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics by ward of residence for people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2 overleaf gives the annual average number of JSA claimants resident in each of the wards of Stockton South Parliamentary Constituency for the years 1997 and 2004.
	
		Table 1: Employment and unemployment among people aged 16–74 resident in wards of the Stockton South parliamentary constituency 1991 and 2001
		
			  1991 2001 
			  All people In employment Unemployed All people In employment Unemployed 
		
		
			 Wards of Stockton South PCA 78,161 43,910 4,995 67,951 40,869 2,836 
			
			 Ayresome(10) 4,806 2,059 587 (11)— (11)— (11)— 
			 Brookfield(10) 5,217 3,296 190 (11)— (11)— (11)— 
			 Kader(10) 5,005 2,826 181 (11)— (11)— (11)— 
			 Bishopsgarth 6,057 3,753 280 5,623 3,561 185 
			 Egglescliffe 6,271 3,826 235 5,935 3,836 156 
			 Elm Tree(12) (11)— (11)— (11)— 3,415 1,939 88 
			 Fairfield 3,988 2,136 160 3,466 2,056 95 
			 Grangefield 4,083 2,294 230 3,561 2,041 194 
			 Hartburn 5,649 3,490 177 4,982 3,000 121 
			 Ingleby Barwick 4,648 3,344 120 11,923 8,839 280 
			 Mandale 5,214 2,489 513 4,561 2,388 278 
			 Parkfield 4,992 2,341 734 4,159 1,844 475 
			 Preston 2,352 1,400 96 2,181 1,408 63 
			 Stainsby 4,791 2,353 476 4,062 2,056 283 
			 Victoria 4,032 1,890 424 3,970 1,847 261 
			 Village 4,342 2,129 345 3,678 1,849 184 
			 Yarm 6,714 4,284 247 6,435 4,205 173 
		
	
	(10)These wards were located within Stockton South parliamentary constituency (PC) in 1991 but moved to Middlesbrough PC in 2001.
	(11)Figure not shown as ward was not in Stockton South PCA in relevant year, due to boundary changes.
	(12)Elm Tree ward was located within Stockton North PC in 1991 but moved to Stockton South PC in 2001.
	Source:
	1991 and 2001 Censuses of Population
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the wards of Stockton South parliamentary constituency (annual averages)
		
			  1997 2004 
		
		
			 Wards of Stockton South PCA(13) 3,201 1,677 
			
			 Bishopsgarth 177 89 
			 Egglescliffe 191 68 
			 Elm Tree 124 46 
			 Fairfield 113 43 
			 Grangefield 212 109 
			 Hartburn 145 69 
			 Ingleby Barwick 123 128 
			 Mandate 342 196 
			 Parkfield 657 320 
			 Preston 73 30 
			 Stainsby 308 183 
			 Victoria 342 186 
			 Village 214 138 
			 Yarm 182 72 
		
	
	(13)Based on 1991 frozen wards.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system.

Employment/Education

John Cummings: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in full-time and part-time work in Easington constituency in each year since 2001.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. John Cummings, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment. I am replying in his absence. (216090)
	The attached table gives estimates of those people resident in the Easington Parliamentary Constituency who were in full-time or part-time employment for the twelve month periods ending in February from 2001 to 2004.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey, as with any sample survey, are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Employed people resident in Easington parliamentary constituency
		
			 12 months ending February Total Full-time Part-time(14) 
		
		
			 2001 33,000 25,000 8,000 
			 2002 32,000 25,000 7,000 
			 2003 33,000 26,000 7,000 
			 2004 29,000 23,000 6,000 
		
	
	(14)These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Employment/Education

Alan Hurst: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population between the ages of 18 and 25 years were in either employment or education in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1991 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea in each year from 1998 to 2004.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Alan Hurst, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of the population between the ages of 18 and 25 years were in either employment or education in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1991 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the Boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, in each year from 1998 to 2004. I am replying in his absence. (215115)
	The attached table gives estimates of those people aged 18 to 24 years old, resident in the county of Essex and the Boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, either in employment or education, for the 12 month periods ending February each year for the years 1995 to 2004. Information is not available for earlier periods.
	These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	
		18–24 year olds either in employment or in full-time education(15) -- Percentage
		
			  Place of residence 
			 12 months ending February each year County of Essex Thurrock UA(16) Southend-on-Sea UA(16) 
		
		
			 1995 80.7 — — 
			 1996 80.4 — — 
			 1997 83.2 — — 
			 1998 84.9 75.9 72.2 
			 1999 85.5 79.2 67.7 
			 2000 88.3 85.3 87.3 
			 2001 86.8 84.0 79.4 
			 2002 85.5 85.6 76.1 
			 2003 79.8 86.3 81.7 
			 2004 85.2 76.8 84.6 
		
	
	(15)Expressed as a percentage of all 18 to 24-year-olds resident in relevant area. Includes some people who are in full-time education who are also in employment.
	(16)Data for Unitary Authorities not available prior to 1998.
	Note:
	Some of these estimates are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, in particular, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS—Labour Force Survey

Equitable Life

John Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Parliamentary Commission for Administration concerning his inquiry into Equitable Life; and what indications he has given as to when he expects to publish his findings and recommendations.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 10 February 2005
	In her letter to all hon. and right hon. Members of 24 November 2004 the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration said that she hoped to complete her investigation during 2005. The Treasury received the statement of complaint from the ombudsman on 9 December. Treasury officials have maintained regular contact with the ombudsman's staff and are co-operating fully with the investigation.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Confidentiality of Statistics Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Angus Robertson, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions relating to past meetings of the EU Committee on Confidentiality of Statistics (CSC) and the Committee on the Harmonisation of the Compilation of Gross National Product at Market Prices (GNPMP). I am replying in his absence. (215900 & 215901)
	During the Italian Presidency the CSC met on 3 December 2003. During the Irish Presidency the CSC did not meet. During the Dutch Presidency the CSC met on 10 December 2004. On both occasions the CSC met in Luxembourg. The UK was represented at both meetings by appropriate Office for National Statistics (ONS) officials. The CSC discusses issues of statistical confidentiality and access to data for the production of statistics for publication and research.
	During the Italian Presidency the GNPMP met on 3/4 July 2003 and 5/6 November 2003. During the Irish Presidency the GNPMP met on 25/26 March 2004. During the Dutch Presidency the GNPMP met on 6 July 2004 and 4 November 2004. On all occasions the GNPMP met in Luxembourg. The UK was represented by appropriate ONS officials. The Gross National Income Committee, that replaced the GNPMP Committee, oversees the process for verifying statistics provided for the purpose of determining member states contributions to the EU budget.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 597W, if he will make a statement on appropriate vires concerning Government spending on information on the EU.

Stephen Timms: Full guidance on the powers to incur expenditure is given in chapter 2.2 of Government Accounting (www.government-accounting.gov.uk).

Financial Inclusion

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the (a) Financial Inclusion Taskforce and (b) Financial Inclusion Fund will be set up.

Stephen Timms: The 2004 pre-budget report announced the establishment of a Financial Inclusion Taskforce, chaired by Brian Pomeroy. The membership of the Taskforce was announced on 28 January and the Taskforce will be formally launched on 21 February. The Pre-Budget Report also announced a Financial Inclusion Fund of £120 million over three years, to support initiatives to tackle financial exclusion. Further details on the Fund will be announced shortly.

Financial Inclusion

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the report on Promoting Financial Inclusion on existing credit unions.

Stephen Timms: The Government announced a number of measures for credit unions in the Promoting Financial Inclusion document which was published alongside the pre budget report 2004. These are designed to boost the coverage, capacity and sustainability of the credit union sector in providing a source of affordable credit to the financially excluded.

Local Government

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Departments agreed to the reallocation of funds for the purpose of allocating additional funds to local authorities; how much was reallocated in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 13 December 2004
	As the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in his evidence to the Treasury Select Committee on 16 December, full departmental spending allocations will be available through the publication of the Main Supply Estimates, which will take place in due course.

New Jobs (Scotland)

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in (a) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, (b) the Scottish Borders and (c) Scotland in each year since 2002.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Michael Moore, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary Question about the number of new jobs created in Scotland and selected regions. I am replying in his absence. (216127)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in numbers of jobs from year to year.
	The attached table shows the available information for the number of jobs and change in jobs in the parliamentary constituency of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, the Scottish Borders and in Scotland, from 2001 to 2003.
	
		Number of jobs(17) and change in jobs in the parliamentary constituency of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, the Scottish Borders and Scotland: 2001 to 2003
		
			 Number of jobs 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale(18)(5507390019) 19,000 21,500 — 
			 Scottish Borders(18) 38,800 39,900 41,000 
			 Scotland 2,299,800 2,279,500 2,298,900 
			 Change in number of jobs from previous year 
			 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale(18) ,  (19)  2,400 — 
			 Scottish Borders(18)  1,100 1,100 
			 Scotland  20,300 19,400 
		
	
	(17)Excludes self-employed jobs.
	(18)These figures are aggregates from which agriculture class 0100 (1992 SIC) have been excluded
	(19)2003 Annual Business Inquiry estimates are currently not available by parliamentary constituency
	Note:
	Each table entry is independently rounded to the nearest hundred
	Source:
	2001–2003; Annual Business Inquiry.

Pensioners

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households with (a) only one adult aged over 65 years and (b) two or more adults aged over 65 years there were in (i) England and (ii) each parliamentary constituency in the latest year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mrs. Caroline Spelman, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many households with (a) only one adult, who is aged over 65 years and (b) two or more adults aged over 65 years there were in (i) England and (ii) each parliamentary constituency in the latest year for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (216228)
	Specially commissioned table C0453 has been run for each Parliamentary Constituency of England and Wales to identify the number of (a) single occupancy households which contain one resident who was aged 65 and over, and b) households containing two or more people where all residents were aged 65 and over on Census day (29 April 2001). This has been placed in the House of Commons Library and is also available from Census Customer Services. Table C0453 shows that there were 2,683,603 households in England which contained one resident who was aged 65 and over. The same table shows that there were 1,566,863 households in England which contained two or more residents who were aged 65 and over.

Pensions Selling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensions were sold in each of the past 10 years on the basis of (a) tied advice, (b) independent advice and (c) execution only; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available in the format required. However, the First Report of the Pensions Commission" provides Individual Pension Sales by Channel for 2003 sourced from ABI new business statistics, 2003". The following figures include all Stakeholder, Group Personal Pension (GPP) and Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contribution (FSAVC) pensions.
	
		
			 Distribution channel Percentage of total sales 
		
		
			 Independent financial advisers 79 
			 Direct salesforce and tied agents 18 
			 Direct marketing with no salesforce interview 2 
			 Other 1/<1 
			 Total 100 
		
	
	More detailed statistics relating to premiums collected per annum by distribution channel dating from 1994 are available from the website of the Association of British Insurers.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on postage by the Department in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The Treasury's postage costs were £62,000 in 2002–03 and £67,000 in 2003–04, being the costs incurred on the Department's franking machines. Letters are posted second class unless specified otherwise. Information in respect of the earlier years is not readily available.

Staff Vacancies

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Stephen Timms: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary (Ruth Kelly) to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride) on 14 January 2004, Official Report, column 810W, which stated that recruitment advertising costs were £126,000 in financial year 2002–03 and £173,000 in the first three quarters of financial year 2003–04. The estimated full year cost of advertising staff vacancies in 2003–04 was £210,000.

Targets

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many targets have been set in each year since 1997 by the Department; and, of these, which have been (a) met, (b) nearly met, (c) not met, (d) changed and (e) dropped.

Stephen Timms: Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets have been set every two years as part of the Spending Review. Since 1997 there have been four reviews: the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, and the 2000, 2002 and 2004 Spending Reviews. A number of targets have been reinforced or refined by subsequent Spending Reviews, and an increasing number of PSA targets have been rolled forward between Spending Reviews. The number of PSA targets set during each Spending Review has fallen from over 250 in 1998 to 110 in 2004.
	Performance against all PSA targets is reported in departmental reports. Since 2002, performance has also been reported in departments' autumn performance reports. A performance reporting website was introduced in 2003 (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/performance).

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received by the MP tax credits complaints team (a) by post and (b) by telephone in each month since the service was set up.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 9 February 2005
	The information is as follows:
	(a) Information on the number of letters received from hon. Members in 2003–04 is not available.
	The Inland Revenue Tax Credit Office has a team that deals with all letters from hon. Members. The team received 4,285 such letters directly from hon. Members in the period 1 April 2004–31 December 2004 broken down as follows.
	
		
			  Month Number of letters from hon. Members to TCO 
		
		
			 April 2004 223 
			 May 2004 218 
			 June 2004 338 
			 July 2004 377 
			 August 2004 350 
			 September 2004 508 
			 October 2004 603 
			 November 2004 880 
			 December 2004 788 
		
	
	In addition to the letters received by Tax credit Office, Treasury Ministers and Inland Revenue Board members received around 1,650 letters from hon. Members in the same period.
	(b) The MPs' Hotline in the Inland Revenue Tax Credit Office deals with calls from hon. Members about their constituents' tax credits claims. The number of calls received by the MP Hotline in 2003–04 and 2004–05 is as follows:
	
		
			  Month Number of calls to Tax Credit Office MP Hotline 
		
		
			 April 2003 1,882 
			 May 2003 4,371 
			 June 2003 4,186 
			 July 2003 1,472 
			 August 2003 858 
			 September 2003 815 
			 October 2003 1,032 
			 November 2003 835 
			 December 2003 916 
			 January 2004 1,032 
			 February 2004 1,052 
			 March 2004 839 
			 April 2004 930 
			 May 2004 774 
			 June 2004 1,000 
			 July 2004 1,114 
			 August 2004 991 
			 September 2004 1,326 
			 October 2004 1,328 
			 November 2004 1,714 
			 December 2004 1,675

Teenage Pregnancy (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the teenage pregnancy rate in Leicester, South was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Parmjit Singh Gill, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the teenage pregnancy rate in Leicester South was in each year since 1997. I am replying in his absence. (216386)
	Teenage conception figures by Parliamentary Constituencies are not available.
	The most recent year for which figures are available for local and health authorities is 2002. Figures for this year are provisional.
	Number and rate of teenage conceptions to women aged under 18 in Leicester UA for 1997 to 2002 are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Number Rate(20) 
		
		
			 1997 304 54.3 
			 1998 365 64.6 
			 1999 326 59.1 
			 2000 329 58.3 
			 2001 273 47.1 
			 2002(21) 308 51.9 
		
	
	(20)Per 1,000 female population aged 15–17.
	(21)Provisional

Unemployment

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of those unemployed are (a) under 18, (b) under 21 and (c) under 30 years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (215949)
	The table overleaf gives estimates of the proportion of all unemployed people resident in the United Kingdom who were aged under 18, under 21 and under 30. Estimates are for the 12 months ending February 2004.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are., as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	
		
			 Proportions of total unemployed resident in the United Kingdom of these ages: Twelve months ending February 2004 (percentage) 
		
		
			 Under 18 11.0 
			 Under 21 24.7 
			 Under 30 49.2 
		
	
	Source:
	ONS—Labour Force Survey

Unemployment

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average level of unemployment in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland was in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2005.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (215948)
	Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of unemployed people who were resident in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland Parliamentary Constituency, for the 12 month periods ending February 1997, 2001 and 2004, the latest period for which figures are available.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants resident in the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency for the year 1997, 2001 and 2004.
	
		Table 1: Unemployed people resident in the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency
		
			 Twelve month period ending February:  
		
		
			 1997 3,000 
			 2001 3,000 
			 2004 3,000 
		
	
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year-to-year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency
		
			 Annual averages Claimants 
		
		
			 1997 3,462 
			 2001 2,427 
			 2004 1,748 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Unemployment (Scotland)

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in each year since 2002 in (a) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, (b) the Scottish Borders and (c) Scotland, broken down by (i)age and (ii) gender.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Michael Moore, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary Question
	about unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (216129)
	Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of unemployed people, who were resident in Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Parliamentary Constituency, the Scottish Borders and Scotland for the twelve month periods ending February for the years 2002 to 2004.
	These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of people resident by age and gender in the Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale parliamentary constituency, the Scottish Borders and Scotland claiming Jobseeker's Allowance benefits for the years 2002 to 2004.
	
		Table 1: Unemployed people resident in Tweeddale, the Scottish Borders and Scotland by gender and age
		
			  Total 
			 Twelve month period ending February Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale(22) Scottish Borders(22) Scotland 
		
		
			 2002
			 All Persons 16+ (23)— 1,000 166,000 
			 16–24 (23)— (23)— 64,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 36,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 42,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 24,000 
			 2003
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 3,000 164,000 
			 16–24 1,000 1,000 61,000 
			 25–34 (23)— 1,000 31,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 43,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 29,000 
			 2004
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 2,000 145,000 
			 16–24 1,000 1,000 58,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 31,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 36,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 20,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Male Female 
			 Twelve month period ending February Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale(22) Scottish Borders(22) Scotland Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale(22) Scottish Borders(22) Scotland 
		
		
			 2002   
			 All Persons 16+ (23)— (23)— 105,000 (23)— (23)— 61,000 
			 16–24 (23)— (23)— 42,000 (23)— (23)— 22,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 19,000 (23)— (23)— 17,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 25,000 (23)— (23)— 18,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 19,000 (23)— (23)— 5,000 
			 2003   
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 2,000 99,000 (23)— 1,000 65,000 
			 16–24 1,000 1,000 37,000 (23)— (23)— 24,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 17,000 (23)— (23)— 15,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 25,000 (23)— (23)— 18,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 20,000 (23)— (23)— 9,000 
			 2004   
			 All Persons 16+ 1,000 1,000 92,000 (23)— 1,000 53,000 
			 16–24 (23)— (23)— 36,000 (23)— (23)— 22,000 
			 25–34 (23)— (23)— 19,000 (23)— (23)— 12,000 
			 35–49 (23)— (23)— 22,000 (23)— (23)— 14,000 
			 50 and over (23)— (23)— 15,000 (23)— (23)— 5,000 
		
	
	(22)These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	(23)Estimates are not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in Tweeddale, the Scottish Borders and Scotland by gender and age
		
			  Total 
			 Annual Average Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Borders Scotland 
		
		
			 2002
			 All Persons 16+ 745 1,400 103,590 
			 18–24 210 400 26,395 
			 25–34 165 300 26,585 
			 35–49 210 380 30,290 
			 50 and over 130 275 17,635 
			 2003
			 All Persons 16+ 685 1,200 101,560 
			 18–24 190 330 26,405 
			 25–34 150 245 25,220 
			 35–49 190 335 29,550 
			 50 and over 130 245 17,600 
			 2004
			 All Persons 16+ 650 1,125 94,105 
			 18–24 175 320 25,170 
			 25–34 140 235 22,600 
			 35–49 195 315 27,195 
			 50 and over 120 220 16,435 
		
	
	
		
			  Male Female 
			  Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Borders Scotland Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Borders Scotland 
		
		
			 2002   
			 All Persons 16+ 570 1040 80,030 175 360 23,565 
			 18–24 155 270 18,890 55 130 7,500 
			 25–34 135 245 22,070 30 55 4,515 
			 35–49 165 295 23,965 45 85 6,325 
			 50 and over 95 200 13,605 35 75 4,030 
			 2003   
			 All Persons 16+ 515 870 77,875 165 330 23,690 
			 18–24 135 225 18,800 55 105 7,600 
			 25–34 120 195 20,850 25 50 4,370 
			 35–49 145 250 23,090 45 85 6,460 
			 50 and over 95 175 13,595 30 70 4,005 
			 2004   
			 All Persons 16+ 495 830 71,700 155 295 22,410 
			 18–24 130 220 17,865 45 100 7,310 
			 25–34 115 185 18,665 25 45 3,935 
			 35–49 155 240 21,125 40 70 6,070 
			 50 and over 90 160 12,560 30 60 3,875 
		
	
	Note:
	Age breakdown is analysed by computer claims only.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Vitamins and Supplements

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died from the effects of vitamins and supplements in (a) Lancashire, (b) Chorley and (c) the north west in the last three years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have died from the effects of vitamins and supplements in (a) Lancashire, (b) Chorley and (c)the North West in the last three years. I am replying in his absence. (216241)
	Available figures relate to poisoning by vitamins and vitamin supplements. They do not include adverse effects of vitamins and vitamin supplements in therapeutic use. The most recent available figures are for the calendar year 2003. There were 2 deaths recorded nationally from poisoning by vitamins and vitamin supplements 1 between the calendar years 2001 and 2003. Because of the risk of disclosure these data can not be disaggregated by area.
	1 Selected using the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes:
	T45.2—Poisoning by vitamins, not elsewhere classified,
	T45.7—Poisoning by anticoagulant antagonists, vitamin K and other coagulant,
	T46.7—Peripheral vasodilators, and
	T47.1—Poisoning from other antacids and anti-gastric-secretion drugs.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum/Immigration

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to increase the removal of failed asylum seekers in the last 12 months.

Des Browne: The Immigration Service has introduced a number of initiatives in the last 12 months to increase the number of failed asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom. These include; creating a clear and distinct national framework of offices dedicated to delivery the enforcement and removals agenda; increasing the number of removals under the assisted voluntary returns scheme; increasing the number of returns to safe third countries through the increased use of ring fence detention; increasing the number of removals in London by using flexible and mobile teams able to better support other agencies; re-evaluating the way in which we deal with family removals; maximising removals for our network of reporting centres and working to reduce disruptive behaviour designed to frustrate removal at the point of departure.

Asylum/Immigration

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's targets are for (a) the proportion of asylum cases to be decided within (i) two and (ii) six months, (b) the proportion of asylum decisions to be audited as fully effective or better and (c) the proportion of failed asylum seekers who are removed from the country.

Des Browne: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) The Home Office's Public Service Agreement (PSA) target for 2003–04 was to ensure that 75 per cent. of new substantive asylum applications (excluding withdrawals and third country casesl) were decided within two months. That target remains for 2004–05. This was an increase from the 65 per cent. and 60 per cent. targets met in 2002–03 and 2001–02 respectively.
	The 2003–04 target was exceeded, with 82 per cent. of new substantive applications having an initial decision reached and served within two months. The speed of initial decisions continues to improve with 84 per cent. of substantive applications received in Q2 (April to June) 2004 having an initial decision reached and served within two months, and reflects the Governments commitment to, and continued success in, speeding up the initial decision-making process.
	(ii) The PSA target for 2003–04 was to ensure that 60 per cent. of new substantive asylum applications are decided (including final appeal) within 6 months. The target increased to 65 per cent. for 2004–05. The target was exceeded with 64 per cent. of applications received in 2003–04 (April 2003 to March 2004) having a final decision, up to and including appeals at the IAT, within six months.
	(b) The PSA target for the quality of initial asylum decisions is to ensure that: 80 per cent. of asylum decisions sampled at random in 2003–04 are found to be fully effective or better, and that 80 per cent. of asylum decisions assessed by external assessors sampled at random in 2003–04 are found to be fully effective or better. Both criteria increase to 85 per cent. for the year 2005–06.
	The 2003–04 target was exceeded with 85 per cent. of criteria assessed on asylum decisions sampled at random by internal assessors during 2003–04 (April 2003 to March 2004) found to be fully effective or better. 81 per cent. of criteria assessed on asylum decisions sampled at random by external assessors during 2003–04 (April 2003 to March 2004) were found to be fully effective or better.
	(c) The current PSA target for the removal of failed asylum seekers is to enforce the immigration laws more effectively by removing a greater proportion of failed asylum-seekers.
	The ratio of numbers of asylum seekers removed (including dependants) in 2003–04 to those becoming failed asylum seekers (either did not appeal or appeal rights exhausted) in 2003–04 was 21 per cent. (compared with an estimated 21 per cent. for 2002–03).
	The five-year strategy for asylum and immigration, published on 7 February, commits the department to ensure that the monthly rate of removals exceeds the number of unfounded applications by the end of 2005.
	Information on the number of asylum applications outstanding, and the timeliness of initial decisions are published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	1 Cases which may be the responsibility of other EU member states under the Dublin Convention.

Asylum/Immigration

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether special measures have been put in place to assist asylum seekers and refugees (a) to find family members directly affected by the tsunami and (b) to go home to help with reconstruction.

Des Browne: There are no separate arrangements in place to assist asylum seekers and refugees to find family members directly affected by the tsunami. However, the British Red Cross does provide assistance in searching for missing family members.
	Those asylum seekers wishing to return to countries in the region are able to apply for assistance through the International Organization for Migration's voluntary assisted returns and reintegration programme. Requests by recognised refugees to return temporarily, for example to undertake reconstruction, are being considered on a compassionate and case by case basis.

Asylum/Immigration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a body independent of his Department to compile immigration statistics.

Des Browne: The Home Office is satisfied that there is already sufficient independence in the immigration statistics, for which it is responsible. Immigration control and asylum statistics are part of National Statistics. They are produced by statisticians, whose independence is established under the National Statistics Code of Practice, and the statistics themselves are acknowledged as reliable. The National Audit Office's review in May last year found that the asylum data and statistics are in most respects reliable".
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for producing National Statistics on migrants entering or leaving the United Kingdom, and England and Wales. The ONS' estimates of migrants are compiled from a number of data sources, including the International Passenger Survey and date from the Home Office.
	National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. As such, they undergo quality assurance reviews and are produced free from any political interference.
	The Government's White Paper, 'Building trust in statistics', sets out the framework for assuring the quality of National Statistics. A key component of the framework is to conduct a programme of thorough reviews of key outputs, at least every five years. The National Statistics Quality Review of the International Migration was published on 2 September 2003 and covered all forms of migration between the UK and the rest of the world, including statistics relating to all migrants and statistics relating to migrants subject to UK immigration control. The Home Office is about to embark on a National Statistics review of its publications relating to the control of immigration statistics, including the presentation of asylum statistics within these.

Asylum/Immigration

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has received from the High Commission in Islamabad case papers on the case of Mr. I. H., husband of Mrs. S. B. of Aylesbury, reference ISB/747450.

Des Browne: The case papers of Mr I. H. were received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on 15 November 2004 and were forwarded to the Immigration Appellate Authority on 9 February 2005.

British Passports

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British passports have been reported lost or stolen (a) in the UK and (b) abroad in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: The UK Passport Service did not routinely collect information on the number of lost and stolen passports prior to 1999. Up until the introduction in December 2003 of a new comprehensive system for the reporting and recording of lost and stolen passports, only the total number of these passports was recorded.
	The information shown in the table for 1999 to 2003 cannot therefore be broken down between the UK and abroad. Also it is mainly based on information contained in applications for replacement passports. It may not therefore show the true number of passports lost and stolen in these years.
	In 2004 of the total number of 306,406 lost and stolen passports reported under the UK Passport Service's improved reporting and recording arrangements, 49,802 were reported lost/stolen abroad, and 256,604 were reported lost/stolen in the UK.
	
		
			  Number of lost and stolen passports As a percentage of total passports issued 
		
		
			 1997 Not available — 
			 1998 Not available — 
			 1999 62,364 1.11 
			 2000 114,624 2.08 
			 2001 148,230 2.61 
			 2002 166,358 3.08 
			 2003 184,301 3.33 
			 2004 306,406 5.04

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 30 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Dwight Swanson.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 10 February.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The cost of cleaning the Department is not centrally recorded. Cleaning usually forms part of a wider facilities management contract and separating out the cleaning element of these contracts for the Home Office estate could be done only at disproportionate cost. However, the cost of cleaning the Central London estate in 2003–04 was £1,097,606.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the cost of parking spaces at Home Office buildings is not recorded centrally and could be estimated only at disproportionate cost. The Home Office does not reimburse staff for any parking tickets or penalties they may incur while on official business. Staff are personally responsible for meeting the costs of any such fines.

Deportation Orders

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders against British prison inmates who were also Irish nationals there have been since 2000.

Des Browne: The numbers of deportation orders enforced against British prison inmates who are also Irish nationals are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002 2 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 19 
			 2004 10 
		
	
	These figures are provisional, based on management information and are not National Statistics.

European Public Bodies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) budget, (b) role and (c) staffing levels of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union; when this body was agreed in Council; whether this body was notified to Parliament; under what legal treaty base it will operate; where it will be based; and whether its staff will enjoy diplomatic immunity.

Des Browne: The provisional budget for the European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Borders of the member states of the European Union was set out in the legislative financial statement annexed to the first version of the Agency Regulation (14766/03). The initial estimate for the years 2005–09 is as follows: 2005—€6,157 million; 2006—€9.754 million; 2007—€15,754 million; 2008—€15.754 million; and 2009—€8.754 million. But the final figures are still being discussed as part of the negotiations on the new financial perspective which begins in 2007. As the UK has been excluded from participation in adoption of the Agency Regulation, we will not be making a financial contribution to the Agency through the EU budget—we receive an automatic rebate on measures in which we do not participate. UK contributions will only be made when we request to participate in specific activities undertaken by the Agency.
	The role of the Agency will be to provide effective co-ordination of member states joint actions at the EU external borders. Article 2 of the final version of the Agency Regulation (2007/2004) outlines the Agency's main tasks:
	1. The Agency shall perform the following tasks:
	(a) co-ordinate operational co-operation between member states in the field of management of external borders;
	(b) assist member states on training of national border guards, including the establishment of common training standards;
	(c) carry out risk analyses;
	(d) follow up on the development of research relevant for the control and surveillance of external borders;
	(e) assist member states in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders;
	(f) provide member states with the necessary support in organising joint return operations."
	The UK fully supports the aims and objectives of the Agency.
	The staffing levels of the Agency will be set once the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and the Management Board are in place—it will be their responsibility to decide what the staffing levels should be (within the limits of the provisional budget).
	The Agency Regulation was adopted by the Council on 26 October 2004, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25 November 2004 and came into force on 26 November 2004. The Agency itself should be operational by May 2005.
	Parliament was kept fully informed of negotiations on the Border Agency Regulation through the usual European Parliamentary Scrutiny mechanisms. It cleared scrutiny in the European Scrutiny Committee [Commons] on 25 February 2004 and in the European Union Committee [Lords]on 2 March 2004.
	The Agency will operate under a joint legal treaty base—Articles 62(2)(a) and 66 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
	No decision has yet been taken on where the Agency will be based. Five member states (Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia and Malta) submitted bids to host the Agency. The UK supports the Polish bid. The Agency will still become operational by May 2005, even if no decision has been taken on its permanent location by then.
	Permanent staff of the Agency will have the same status as the staff of the other EU institutions (e.g. including the Commission). This is in accordance with the existing Staff Regulations and conditions of employment of officials of the European Communities, as set out in Article 17 of the Border Agency Regulation.

Fixed Penalty Notices

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued during the last week of October and the first week of November 2004 for (a) letting off or throwing fireworks in any highway, street, throughfare or public place, (b) possession of fireworks in a public place by those under the age of 18 years and (c) breaching the curfew time for the use of fireworks.

Hazel Blears: The available information, relating to the four offences connected with fireworks for which penalty notices for disorder can be given, is contained in the table:
	
		Penalty notices for disorder issued for firework offences in England and Wales between 25 October and 7 November 2004—provisional figures
		
			 Fireworks offence for which PND issued Issued between 25–31 October inclusive Issued between 1–7 November inclusive 
		
		
			 Throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare 18 36 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew 3 4 
			 Possession of a Category 4 firework 2 3 
			 Possession by under 18 of adult firework — — 
			
			 Total PNDs issued for firework offences 23 47

Graffiti

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been against people found doing graffiti in each of the last five years in (a) Essex and (b) Southend.

Paul Goggins: It is not possible to distinguish offences of graffiti from other types of criminal damage in the Home Office figures for court proceedings as the circumstances of individual offences are not collected centrally.

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in (a) the Metropolitan police, (b) the UK Atomic Energy Authority constabulary and (c) the British Transport police in each year since 1994; and what projections there are for numbers of officers in the force in future years.

Hazel Blears: Information on police numbers in the Metropolitan Police Service is set out in the table. Police officer numbers for the UK Atomic Energy Authority constabulary (UKAEAC) and the British Transport police (BTP) has been provided by my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Transport.
	
		Metropolitan police, British Transport police and the Civil Nuclear constabulary— police officer strength since 1994
		
			  Officer strength 
			 As at 31 March Metropolitan police British Transport police UK Atomic Energy Authority constabulary 
		
		
			 1994 27,699 2,155 490 
			 1995 27,480 2,147 476 
			 1996 27,343 2,166 471 
			 1997 26,677 2,132 459 
			 1998 26,094 2,095 496 
			 1999 26,073 (24)2,113 501 
			 2000 25,485 2,091 503 
			 2001 24,878 2,109 506 
			 2002 26,223 2,123 534 
			 2003 27,984 2,176 558 
			 2004 29,735 2,267 575 
			 2004 (31 August) 30,021 Not available (25)528 
		
	
	(24)BTP figures for 1999 to 2002 inclusive are for actual officers. Figures for 1994 to 1999 and from 2003 onwards are full-time equivalent. BTP police numbers from 2003 has been collected by Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate as part of police strength statistics for England and Wales.
	(25)UKAEAC as at 1 February 2005.
	Following boundary changes on 1 April 2000 with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey, the Metropolitan police district was reduced in size and some resources were transferred to the other three forces. Metropolitan Police Service strength data prior to April 2000 is therefore not comparable with later information.
	The Home Secretary has not set projections of police strength for future years for England and Wales, or for individual forces. I understand that neither the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and Transport have set targets for police strength for the UKAEAC or the BTP. The number of police officers in any force is a matter for the Chief Officer of Police and the Police Authority, subject to the available budget provision.

Speed Cameras

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total amount of revenue from speed cameras was in the area policed by the Lancashire Constabulary in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Information on the total revenue from offences detected by speed camera is not collected centrally, but an estimate can be made from the number of fines and fixed penalties and is given in the table for 2002 (latest available).
	2003 data will be available shortly.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(26) in the Lancashire police force area, 2002.
		
			   Fixed penalties Court proceedings(27) 
			  Number of tickets(28) Estimated revenue (£)(29) Number of fines Total amount of fine(£) Average fine (£) 
		
		
			 2002 88,700 5,322,000 1,700 110,400 66 
		
	
	(26)Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(27)Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(28)Paid i.e. no further action.
	(29)'Estimate' based on £60 penalty charge.

Student Visa Extensions

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the impact of the proposals to increase visa charges on the number of international students studying in the UK.

Des Browne: Following on from the Home Office consultation document 'Review of Charges for Immigration Applications', I am introducing new fees for a range of immigration applications. On 7 February I published a summary and analysis of the consultation responses, the supporting Regulatory Impact Assessments and an analysis of the likely impact of the new charges on international student numbers. These documents are available on the Home Office website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
	International students bring significant economic and social benefits to the UK. In recognition of this, students seeking to vary or extend their conditions of stay in the UK will be charged a reduced fee for postal applications. Our analysis, which is set out in the published Regulatory Impact Assessment, indicates that at the level proposed, the postal charges were unlikely to have a significant impact on the UK's ability to attract and retain international students. However, in order to ensure that remaining to study in the UK remains a competitive option, we have decided that charges should be at a lower rate of £250 for the standard postal service. The higher, premium fee is an optional service which students can take advantage of if they so choose.

Visa Applications

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications made in the UK prior to 1 August 2003 remain to be dealt with; how many personnel are dealing with the applications; and when he expects the applications to be processed and a decision made.

Des Browne: Some 500 applications for further leave to remain predating 1 August 2003 are currently awaiting decision in General Group 2, which is part of the Managed Migration Directorate.
	The equivalent of 7.3 caseworkers are allocated full-time to this work with a further nine working part-time. The work is dealt with in priority order.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Advertising Costs

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the projected expenditure of his Department for advertising and publicity is for the year 2004–05, broken down by campaign; and what the projected total expenditure on advertising and publicity is for the following three years.

Jane Kennedy: The following table details the estimated total expenditure on advertising and publicity in 2004–05:
	
		£
		
			 2004–05 campaign Advertising expenditure Total publicity expenditure 
		
		
			 Future pensioners/Informed Choice — 854,400 
			 State Second Pension — 84,200 
			 State Pension Deferral 200,000 300,000 
			 Pensioners Guide — 1,000,000 
			 Pension Credit 4,023,810 6,500,000 
			 The Pension Service — 559,000 
			 Direct Payment Information Campaign 8,808,000 9,500,000 
			 Direct Payment roadshow — 3,000,000 
			 Fraud 6,450,000 7,150,000 
			 New Deal — 1,650,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus employer marketing 443,000 1,300,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus Awareness — 275,740 
			 Age Positive — 600,000 
			 DDA Awareness 1,122,000 2,000,000 
			 Council Tax Benefit 661,640 850,000 
			 Winter Fuel Payments 514,910 815,000 
			 Totals 22,223,360 36,354,140 
		
	
	Decisions have not yet been made on future expenditure for 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	Notes:
	1.All costs exclude VAT.
	2.All figures have been rounded
	3.Advertising costs are total media costs excluding all production costs
	4.Information campaigns costing under £250,000 and details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses have generally not been included as a disproportionate cost would be incurred in compiling these figures.

Benefit Claims

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a claim for council tax benefit was in each year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: Average processing times are only available for new claims for council tax benefit. Figures are not available prior to April 2000. The available information is in the following table.
	
		Average number of days to process new council tax benefit claims, Great Britain: April 2000 to September 2004
		
			 Period Days 
		
		
			 2000–01 60 
			 2001–02 58 
			 2002–03 53 
			 2003–04 47 
			   
			 2004–051  
			 April to June 2004 46 
			 July to September 2004 47 
		
	
	(30)2004–05 data is available for the first two quarters only.
	Notes:
	1.The figures are rounded to the nearest whole day.
	2.The figures are taken from April to March each year and are four quarter averages.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns April 2000 to September 2004.

Benefit Claims

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people claimed job seekers' allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people claimed income support in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The information is in the following table.
	
		Income support (IS) and jobseekers allowance (JSA) claimants in Scotland by parliamentary constituency, as at August 2004.
		
			   JSA 
			  IS All Contribution-based only Income-based Credits-only 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Central 3,300 1,300 *400 800 *100 
			 Aberdeen North 2,500 700 *200 500 — 
			 Aberdeen South 2,100 700 *100 600 (31)— 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 4,700 1,500 *400 1,000 *100 
			 Angus 2,400 1,600 *400 1,000 *200 
			 Argyll and Bute 2,100 1,000 *100 800 *100 
			 Ayr 2,500 1,300 *300 900 *100 
			 Banff and Buchan 2,600 900 *200 600 *100 
			 Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross 1,800 1,100 *300 700 *100 
			 Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley 3,700 1,600 *200 1,200 *200 
			 Central Fife 3,800 2,000 *300 1,600 *200 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 3,200 1,200 *200 900 *100 
			 Clydesdale 3,500 1,200 *300 600 *200 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 3,700 1,300 *200 1,000 *100 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 2,900 1,000 *200 600 *200 
			 Cunninghame North 3,100 1,700 *300 1,300 *100 
			 Cunninghame South 4,100 2,700 500 1,900 *300 
			 Dumbarton 3,100 1,700 *200 1,300 *100 
			 Dumfries 2,600 1,000 *200 800 *100 
			 Dundee East 4,600 2,000 *200 1,700 (31)— 
			 Dundee West 4,300 1,800 *400 1,300 *200 
			 Dunfermline East 3,000 1,700 *300 1,300 *100 
			 Dunfermline West 2,200 1,200 *100 1,000 *100 
			 East Kilbride 2,600 1,400 *400 800 *200 
			 East Lothian 2,500 800 *300 *300 *100 
			 Eastwood 2,100 1,100 *200 700 *200 
			 Edinburgh Central 3,200 1,200 *300 700 *200 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 4,400 1,400 *200 1,000 *100 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 3,700 1,400 *300 1,000 *100 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 2,700 1,000 *100 700 *100 
			 Edinburgh South 2,300 1,000 *200 700 *100 
			 Edinburgh West 2,200 1,000 *200 800 (31)— 
			 Falkirk East 2,400 1,100 *300 700 *100 
			 Falkirk West 3,300 1,400 *300 1,100 *100 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 2,400 900 *100 700 *100 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 5,300 1,500 *200 1,200 *100 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 6,000 1,500 *200 1,100 *100 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 5,000 1,400 *300 900 *200 
			 Glasgow Govan 5,400 1,800 *300 1,300 *100 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 4,400 1,700 *100 1,500 *100 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 7,200 2,100 *300 1,700 *100 
			 Glasgow Pollok 5,400 1,400 *200 1,100 *100 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 4,400 1,200 *100 1,000 *100 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 8,600 2,400 *300 2,000 *200 
			 Glasgow Springburn 6,800 2,700 *300 2,300 *100 
			 Gordon 1,200 700 *200 *300 *100 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 3,800 2,300 600 1,500 *200 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 4,000 1,500 *300 1,100 *100 
			 Hamilton South 3,600 1,400 *200 1,100 *100 
			 Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber 2,200 800 *200 500 *100 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 3,900 2,000 *200 1,600 *100 
			 Kirkcaldy 3,000 2,200 *200 1,700 *300 
			 Linlithgow 3,100 1,200 *300 800 *100 
			 Livingston 3,500 1,100 *200 800 *100 
			 Midlothian 2,300 800 *200 600 *100 
			 Moray 1,900 900 *200 600 *200 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 4,200 1 ,600 *300 1,200 *100 
			 North East Fife 1,100 900 *200 *400 *300 
			 North Tayside 2,000 1,100 *200 700 *100 
			 Ochil 2,700 1,500 *300 1,000 *100 
			 Orkney and Shetland 800 500 *100 *300 *100 
			 Paisley North 4,900 1,600 *400 1,100 *100 
			 Paisley South 3,900 1,400 *300 1,000 *100 
			 Perth 2,400 1,100 *300 800 *100 
			 Ross Skye and Inverness West 2,700 1,200 *200 700 *200 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 1,800 500 *100 *400 (31)— 
			 Stirling 2,300 1,000 *100 700 *200 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 2,000 900 *100 700 *100 
			 Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale 1,300 500 *200 *200 *100 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 1,300 600 *200 *300 (31)— 
			 West Renfrewshire 2,600 1,200 *300 800 *100 
			 Western Isles 700 600 *100 *400 (31)— 
		
	
	(31)—denotes nil or negligible
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2.Numbers marked *" are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
	3.Income-based JSA figures include claimants who would also be entitled to the contributory element.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.

Benefit Payments (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Chorley constituency received the winter fuel allowance in 2004–05; and what total amounts such payments represented in that year.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not yet available for winter 2004–05. Information about the number of payments at each rate to people in the Chorley constituency for winter 2003–04 is in the Library. We would expect the number to be similar for this winter.

Benefit Payments (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Chorley constituency have received pension credit in each year since it was introduced.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table. Further information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library.
	
		Pension credit recipients, Chorley, 2003–04
		
			 As at December: Households Individuals 
		
		
			 2003 3,065 3,660 
			 2004 3,920 4,795 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2.Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3.Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4.Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
	5.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	6.The figures for December 2004 are the latest available.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Benefits Agency

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department gives to the Benefits Agency on steps to be followed in relation to payment of income support when the Agency has made an error in calculation; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 17 February 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning what guidance is given to the Benefits Agency on steps to be followed in relation to payment of Income Support when the Agency has made an error in calculation. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	It may be helpful if I first explain that the Benefits Agency ceased to exist in April 2002 and was replaced, for people of working age, with Jobcentre Plus. Our aim is to provide people of working age with the help and support to which they are entitled.
	In answer to your specific question, if an Income Support decision is found to be erroneous, the Decision Maker's Guide and the Income Support specific Guidance and Procedures advise the Decision Maker of the appropriate steps to take to revise the decision. If there has been an underpayment of Income Support, any arrears of benefit will be paid. If an overpayment has occurred, a decision will be made as to whether the overpayment has been caused by official error and whether the overpayment is recoverable or can be offset.
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children in (a) the UK and (b) Vale of Clwyd were living in poverty in each of the last 30 years; and what projections he has made of each figure in each of the next three years.

Malcolm Wicks: Our first step towards eradicating child poverty as set out in our current Public Service Agreement target is to reduce the number of children in low-income households by a quarter by 2004–05. This is measured using the proportion of children in relative low income households. Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2002–03'. Data is not available below the regional level and is only available as proportions at the regional level. It should be noted that the reporting of year on year changes in the regional low-income rates are not reliable.
	The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting absolute and relative trends in low income.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Percentage and number of children living in households with income less than 60 per cent. of median
		
			  Before housing costs After housing costs 
			  Number (million) Percentage Number (million) Percentage 
		
		
			 1979(32) 1.7 12 1.9 14 
			 1981(32) 2.4 18 2.7 20 
			 1987(32) 2.6 21 3.1 25 
			 1988–89(32) 2.9 23 3.3 26 
			 1990–91(32) 3.2 26 3.9 31 
			 1991–92(32) 3.4 27 4.1 32 
			 1992–93(32) 3.5 27 4.3 33 
			 1993–94(32) 3.3 25 4.2 32 
			 1994–95(32) 3.2 24 4.2 32 
			 1995–96(32) 3.5 26 4.6 35 
			  
			 1994–95(33) 2.9 23 4.0 32 
			 1995–96(33) 2.7 21 4.0 32 
			 1996–97(33) 3.2 25 4.3 34 
			 1997–98(33) 3.2 25 4.2 33 
			 1998–99(33) 3.1 24 4.2 33 
			 1999–2000(33) 3.0 23 4.1 32 
			 2000–01(33) 2.7 21 3.9 31 
			 2001–02(33) 2.7 21 3.8 30 
			 2002–03(33) 2.6 21 3.6 28 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Family Expenditure Survey (FES) figures are for the United Kingdom, Family Resources Survey (FRS) figures are for Great Britain.
	2.The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years.
	3.FES figures are single calendar years from 1979–87, two combined calendar years from 1998–89 to 1992–93 and two financial years combined from 1993–94 to 1995–96.
	Sources:
	(32)Family Expenditure Survey (UK)
	(33)Family Resources Survey (GB)
	'Measuring child poverty', published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long-term. The measure will consist of three tiers; absolute low income, relative low income and material deprivation and low income combined. The Government will set a target as part of the 2006 SR06 Spending Review to halve by 2010–11 the numbers of children suffering a combination of material deprivation and relative low income. This new measure will commence with estimates taken from the 2004–05 Family Resources Survey. Data will not be available below the regional level.
	Future projections are unavailable.

Departmental Policies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Chorley constituency, the effect of his Department's actions and policies since 1997 on Chorley.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Chorley will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to national level which shows that 24 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the north west are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Chorley who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
	
		Chorley
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 5,700 
			 2002 6,300 
			 2003 6,900 
			 2004 6,800 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Chorley, the proportion in employment has risen to 78.0 per cent.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with over 1,580 in Chorley alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 1,200 families in Chorley.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the State Second Pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 3,920 pensioners in Chorley are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £38.82 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 17,500 pensioners in Chorley have benefited from this increase.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Havant constituency, the effects on Havant of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Havant will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to national level which shows that 18 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the south east are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Havant who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
	
		Havant
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 5,000 
			 2002 4,900 
			 2003 5,200 
			 2004 5,800 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Havant, the proportion in employment has fallen to 69.0 per cent.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with over 1,880 in Havant alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 2,100 families in Havant.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the State Second Pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 4,185 pensioners in Havant are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £38.63 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 21,200 pensioners in Havant have benefited from this increase.

Departmental Policies

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Reading, West constituency, the effects on Reading, West of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government has significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Reading West will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled 3 and 4-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 18 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the south-east are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Reading, West who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the following table.
	
		Reading West
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 3,100 
			 2002 3,200 
			 2003 3,300 
			 2004 3,600 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Reading, West, the proportion in employment has risen to 81.3 per cent.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 970 in Reading West alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18 years old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 1,400 families in Reading, West.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 3,050 pensioners in Reading, West are receiving Pension credit, with an average award of £39.12 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70 plus payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80 plus annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 14,600 pensioners in Reading, West have benefited from this increase.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Technical Adaptation Committee on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The Committee did not meet during these Presidencies. Council Directive 80/1107/EEC of 27 November 1980 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work that made provision for the Committee was revoked in 1998 by the Chemical Agents Directive. The European Commission elected to tackle these risks by individual directives. Separate directives now exist on Chemical and Biological Agents. In relation to Physical Agents, there are now individual directives on Noise, Vibration and Electromagnetic Fields and a fourth on Optical Radiation is under negotiation. Each of the adopted directives makes provision for creation of a Technical Adaptation Committee.
	There have been three Command Papers produced on prospects for the European Union which include highlights from the Presidencies in question—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005. They are available in the Library and on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Housing

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of private landlords in the pilot areas who (a) will and (b) will not participate in the new flat-rate local housing allowance scheme.

Chris Pond: All private sector tenants in the nine pathfinder areas who require help towards their housing costs will claim local housing allowance (LHA) instead of housing benefit. A comprehensive, independent programme of evaluation will examine the impact of LHA across a range of areas, including the decisions and strategies of landlords and impact on the housing market in the areas concerned. This research will be completed in March 2006.
	A further nine local authorities, known as the second wave group, will implement LHA between April and July 2005. Although not part of the formal evaluation programme, their experiences will be used to help inform best practice for extending the scheme nationally.

Housing Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the processing of housing benefit by local authorities is measured in terms of (a) efficiency, (b) accuracy and (c) fraud.

Chris Pond: The Department for Work and Pensions sets performance standards, which includes performance indicators, to help DWP, and local authorities themselves, assess performance in the administration of housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB). Additionally, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate reports to the Secretary of State on the administration of HB and CTB and, in particular, on the prevention and detection of fraud relating to these benefits.

Housing Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much housing benefit expenditure was overpaid by local authorities due to fraud and error in each year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: We undertake a continuous measurement of fraud and error in housing benefit. The Department published Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to September 2003" on 12 August 2004. This report represents progress against the first national headline estimates, for the level of fraud and error in HB. The report is available in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a claim for housing benefit was in each year since 1975.

Chris Pond: The available information is in the following table.
	
		Average number of days to process new housing benefit claims, Great Britain: April 2000 to September 2004
		
			  Days 
		
		
			 2000–01 49 
			 2001–02 53 
			 2002–03 48 
			 2003–04 45 
			 April to June 2004 45 
			 July to September 2004 43 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The average time taken to process a housing benefit (HB) claim is available for new claims only and the data is not available prior to April 2000.
	2.The figures are rounded to the nearest whole day.
	3.The figures are taken from April to March each year and are four quarter averages.
	4.2004–05 data is available for the first two quarters only, i.e. April to September 2004.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns April 2000 to September 2004.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the 52 week linking rule; and what qualitative research his Department has commissioned to evaluate it.

Chris Pond: The 52 week linking rule was introduced in 1998 to allow people moving off an incapacity benefit into work to re-access any higher rates of benefit that had been in payment if their job did not work out and they needed to re-claim. It was introduced as a result of research evidence which found that people feared moving off benefit in case their job did not last, leading to difficulties in requalifying for their old benefit. The importance of linking rules was confirmed in subsequent research. For example, an evaluation in 2003 of clients eligible for the new deal for disabled people identified the most important 'bridge to work' was the knowledge that they could return to their original benefit if needed.
	The Department of Social Security Research Report 141 incapacity benefits and work incentives included qualitative research into the operation of the 52 week linking rule. The conclusions of the researchers were that knowing about the linking rule could influence decisions to move into work; that it reduced some of the risks and anxieties about loss of income and security attached to moving into work and that it was generally appreciated by clients. There were also indications that lack of awareness of the rule reduced its incentive effect as did anxiety that the rule would be hard to access and there was evidence that this was the case. This has been borne out by recent research. The Department for Work and Pensions Research Report A Stepping Stone to Employment" published last December noted the very low levels of awareness of the linking rules amongst clients on permitted work.
	The Department's five year strategy published earlier this month includes our commitment to review the operation of the linking rules to ensure that existing claimants' position is protected if they take a job and they then need to return to incapacity benefits.

Incapacity Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the conditions for receiving income support on the grounds of incapacity.

Chris Pond: The changes to incapacity benefits as set out in the Five-Year Strategy apply equally to contributory incapacity benefit and income support on the grounds of incapacity. We will be looking to simplifycurrent arrangements by incorporating both contributory and income-related elements into the new benefits.

Jobcentre Plus

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to assess the speed, efficiency and accuracy of the provision of benefits at Jobcentre Plus.

Chris Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 17 February 2005:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the measures that are in place to assess the speed, efficiency and accuracy of the provision of benefits at Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In answer to your specific question, the Secretary of State assesses the accuracy of benefits provision through the Jobcentre Plus target regime. Each year, annual targets are set for Jobcentre Plus and currently include the measures of Monetary Value of Fraud and Error, and Business Delivery. The latter includes elements on the accuracy of Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, and Jobseeker's Allowance. The targets are published in the Jobcentre Plus Business Plan each year, which is placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Turning to the subject of efficiency, Jobcentre Plus, within its unit cost target, has one element based on the total costs incurred for benefit processing divided by the number of claims actually processed. This measure forms a key part of the Jobcentre Plus aim to improve efficiency and is continually monitored by HM Treasury.
	Jobcentre Plus also has a range of internal management measures that detail levels of expectation for key business areas and includes average clearance times for Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, and Jobseeker's Allowance claims and changes of circumstance, and Social Fund applications.
	Performance against targets is reported on the Jobcentre Plus website.
	I hope this is helpful.

National Insurance Numbers

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers are currently in issue.

Chris Pond: There are approximately 72 million national insurance numbers currently in issue.
	Source
	DWP Departmental Central Index

Occupational Health

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking in co-ordination with other Government Departments to (a) disseminate advice and good practice on occupational health in the workplace and (b) clarify the official vehicles for doing so.

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is working with Department of Health to deliver action from the 'Choosing Health?' White Paper, and to support NHS plus to provide occupational health services where capacity is available.
	The Health and Safety Executive disseminates occupational health advice and best practice through its own staff, its website and written guidance.
	In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced 'Workplace Health Direct' on 2 February 2005 as part of DWP's five-year strategy on employment opportunities for all. This is a £20 million pilot scheme to give free occupational health, safety and return-to-work advice and support to small and medium sized businesses and workers.
	We are also exploring the potential role of vocational rehabilitation in support of occupational health through its Framework for Vocational Rehabilitation published in October 2004.

Pension Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are in receipt of pension credit in Birmingham, broken down by constituency; and what the total value of pension credit paid to them is.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit in each constituency at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library. Between 1 October 2003 and 31 December 2004 an estimated total of £181.7 million, rounded to the nearest £100,000, was paid in pension credit in the ten Birmingham constituencies. The average award over this period was £50.67.
	Sources:
	Programme Accounting Computer System and IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions.

Pension Credit

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many pensioners have received pension credit in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East;
	(2)  how many pensioners benefited from the minimum income guarantee in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency in each year of its operation.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the two tables. Further information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly Pension Credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library.
	
		Table 1: Minimum income guarantee recipients, Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East, 1999–2003
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 August 1999 2,700 3,100 
			 August 2000 2,800 3,300 
			 August 2001 3,000 3,600 
			 August 2002 2,900 3,500 
			 August 2003 3,100 3,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures have been taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3.Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4.Minimum income guarantee was introduced in April 1999
	5.Minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit from 6 October 2003.
	6.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 5 per cent. sample.
	
		Table 2: Pension credit recipients, Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East, 2004
		
			 Date Households Individuals 
		
		
			 August 2004 4,955 6,120 
			 December 2004 5,055 6,250 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2.Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3.The figures for December 2004 are the latest available.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample.

Pensions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average charge was for selling a pension in each of the last 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: Available information on average management charges for personal pensions over the last 10 years (including stakeholder pensions from 6 April 2001) is in the following table. The average charges are based on 25 year regular premiums of £60 per month except for 2004 which is based on £50.
	
		Average reduction in yield for personal and stakeholder pensions from 1995 to 2004 -- Percentage
		
			  Personal pension Stakeholder pension 
		
		
			 1995 1.9 — 
			 1996 1.9 — 
			 1997 1.8 — 
			 1998 1.7 — 
			 1999 1.6 — 
			 2000 n/a — 
			 2001 1.1 1.0 
			 2002 1.1 1.0 
			 2003 n/a n/a 
			 2004 1.1 1.0 
		
	
	The figures are from the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and its predecessor the Personal Investment Authority (PIA), who collected information on pension charges and reported this using the Reduction in Yield (RIY) measurement. This is defined as the percentage point reduction in the gross return on a pension fund as a result of explicit charges and fees. Dealing costs and other implicit charges are not included.Until 2002, the figures were collected as part of the FSA and PIA annual disclosure surveys. However, they have been replaced by online comparative tables, which give present not historical data and so some figures are unavailable.
	The RIY on personal pensions has fallen significantly since the mid 1990's, from around 1.9 per cent. in 1995 to around 1.1 per cent. in 2002, where it has remained. This drop can largely be attributed to the introduction of the stakeholder pension charge cap, currently set at 1 per cent. and the FSA restrictions on advised sales of personal pensions with significantly higher charges than this.

Pensions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of pensions were sold to each income decile of the population in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested, and such information that is available is shown in the table.
	The table shows income and status of people contributing to a Personal Pension or Stakeholder Pension in the 2002–03 tax year, not people purchasing a pension product; some of the personal pensions recorded in the table will have been in existence for several years.
	The table shows that the majority of contributors to both Personal and Stakeholder Pensions are employees, with the next largest group of contributors being the self-employed. For both Personal Pensions and Stakeholder Pensions the majority of contributors in 2002–03 were those earning under £20,000 a year and there are very few contributors who are either outside normal working ages or not in employment.
	This Government want people with modest incomes to have access to good value pensions, and to make the right pension provision for a secure retirement; stakeholder pensions are helping to meet this aim.
	
		Number of individuals contributing to a Personal or Stakeholder Pension by earned income and status 2002–03
		
			  Personal pensions Stakeholder pensions Personal and Stakeholder pensions 
		
		
			 Employees 4,520,000 860,000 5,130,000 
			 Of which:
			 Earning £0-£9,999 900,000 210,000 1,070,000 
			 Earning £10,000-£19,999 1,790,000 360,000 2,050,000 
			 Earning £20,000-£29,999 980,000 180,000 1,100,000 
			 Earning £30,000 plus 850,000 110,000 910,000 
			 
			 Self-Employed 980,000 130,000 1,060,000 
			 Of which:
			 Earning £0-£9,999 310,000 50,000 340,000 
			 Earning £10,000-£19,999 300,000 40,000 320,000 
			 Earning £20,000-£29,999 160,000 20,000 180,000 
			 Earning 30,000 plus 210,000 20,000 230,000 
			 
			 In receipt of a Pension 30,000 10,000 40,000 
			 Child 0 20,000 20,000 
			 Full-time Education 0 0 0 
			 Carer 0 10,000 10,000 
			 Unemployed 0 10,000 10,000 
			 Other 30,000 20,000 50,000 
			 
			 All 5,560,000 1,060,000 6,320,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The table refers to the number of individuals whose Personal or Stakeholder Pension has received a contribution during the year.
	2.Status is largely based on what is reported by an individual when making their opening application, or for existing business by the provider.
	3.Earned income is derived from the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) and consists of all income chargeable under Schedule E (mainly pay, private and occupational pensions, retirement annuities and state retirement pensions), Schedule D Cases I and II (self-employment income), and miscellaneous other earnings.
	4.The Personal and Stakeholder column includes people contributing to either, or both, a Personal and Stakeholder Pension. For this reason, it will not total the individual columns for Personal Pensions and Stakeholder Pensions.
	5.All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and may not sum as a result.
	Source:
	Inland Revenue.

Pensions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the current level of stakeholder charges on the uptake of personal pensions by low income workers; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In the period between April 2001 and September 2004 over 40 pension providers have sold nearly 2.2 million stakeholder pensions, and the average charge on personal pensions has fallen from a 1.9 per cent. Reduction In Yield in 1996 to 1.1 per cent. in 2004, a fall the Pensions Commission attributes a significant part of to the stakeholder pension charge cap. This fall in charges has ensured more of peoples savings go towards their retirement, and less is consumed by charges.
	However the Government recognises that it has been difficult to ensure that the pensions industry can effectively market stakeholder pensions within the constraints of a 1 per cent. charge cap, and to increase the proportion of under-savers actively targeted by providers the Government have, after commissioning an independent review by Deloitte, announced a revised charge cap of 1.5 per cent. for new members joining on or after 6 April 2005 for the first 10 years of membership, reverting to 1 per cent. thereafter. These changes will increase the number of under-savers the pensions industry can cost effectively target, while still ensuring good value for the consumer.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on postage by the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: DWP was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment, including the Employment Service (ES).
	The figures given below for postage include general postage, courier and carriage costs for DWP and its predecessors.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Postage £000 
		
		
			 1997–98(34) 78,525 
			 1998–99(34) 78,348 
			 1999–2000(34) 72,857 
			 2000–01(34) 76,746 
			 2001–02 77,749 
			 2002–03 78,248 
			 2003–04 83,805 
		
	
	(34)The annual postage cost for 1997 to 2001 includes expenditure from the Department of Social Security, The Employment Service and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment.

Rehabilitation Support Allowance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people claiming the new Rehabilitation Support Allowance each year whose benefits will be reduced on account of a refusal to attend work-focused interviews or undertake the required preparation for work.

Jane Kennedy: No such estimate has been made.

Unemployment (Ilford, North)

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in (a) youth unemployment and (b) long-term unemployment in Ilford, North on 31 December (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Ms Linda Perham, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about youth and long-term unemployment in Ilford North parliamentary constituency. I am replying in his absence. (214949)
	Table 1 overleaf gives estimates of the numbers of youth and long-term unemployed people, who were resident in the Ilford North parliamentary constituency, for the twelve-month periods ending February 1998 and 2004.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for local areas. Table2 overleaf gives the annual average number of young people aged 18 to 24 years old resident in the Ilford, North parliamentary constituency claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) benefits. It also shows all JSA claimants claiming for over 12 months for the years 1997 and 2004.
	
		Table 1: Unemployed people resident in Ilford, North parliamentary constituency 12 months ending February
		
			  Youth (aged 16–24) (35)Long-term unemployed 
		
		
			 1998 1,000 1,000 
			 2004 (36)— (36)— 
		
	
	(35)Defined as one year or more.
	(36)Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Ilford, North parliamentary constituency
		
			  Annual averages (37)Youth claimants (aged 18–24) (37)Claimants over 12 months 
		
		
			 1997 470 725 
			 2004 320 170

DEFENCE

Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's spending on (a) new aircraft and (b) up-grades to aircraft since 1997; and how much of the money was spent in (i) Lancashire and (ii) the North West.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Aircraft Carriers

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to sign contracts placing orders for the two CVFs.

Adam Ingram: Discussions continue on the contracting arrangements for the Demonstration and Manufacture of the Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF). These will be confirmed following the main investment decision, which we currently anticipate will take place mid-late 2005.

Armed Forces Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to apply the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Decent Homes Standard to housing provided for members of the armed forces.

Ivor Caplin: The standard for condition is used by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is higher than the criteria defined within the Decent Homes Standard. The application of the Decent Homes Standard to Service Families Accommodation would, therefore, result in the application of a less comprehensive standard than is currently the case.

Armed Forces Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many homes are provided in the UK for members of the armed forces, broken down by location at which such homes are provided; and when the last time was that properties in each location were (a) surveyed and (b) inspected.

Ivor Caplin: As at the end of January 2005, approximately 49,700 properties were provided for the families of armed forces personnel, located at over 600 sites across mainland United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales).
	Management of service families accommodation (SFA) is carried out by Defence Estates (DE). The housing stock is currently spread across nine regional offices, as set out in the following table. Included in the overall figures are about 1,000 substitute SFA properties, which although not managed by DE, are supplied under contract, where appropriate SFA cannot be provided from its own resources.
	Given the number of sites involved, the numbers of houses have been grouped on a regional basis.
	
		
			 Region Total SFA provided(37) 
		
		
			 Anglia (covering Norfolk and Suffolk areas) 5,750 
			 Central (covering Bucks, Oxon, and parts of Wiltshire) 5,800 
			 London (covering locations within the M25) 3,600 
			 North (covering counties to the east ) 7,150 
			 Scotland 3,900 
			 South east (covering Portsmouth and Kent areas) 4,500 
			 South (covering parts of Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire and  Dorset) 9,550 
			 South west (covering Somerset, Cornwall and parts of  Wiltshire) 5,250 
			 West (covering Wales and the western counties) 4,200 
		
	
	(37)As at end January 2005
	The majority of the housing stock was surveyed as a single exercise in the period 1997–98 to achieve a database of the condition of the stock, and provide the necessary information for investment decisions concerning an ongoing upgrade programme. Following that major exercise, properties are subject to further survey as required, for example when a package of properties is identified for upgrading. To set out the details for each individual location would incur disproportionate effort.

Armed Forces Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on housing for members of the armed forces in (a) the UK and (b) abroad, broken down by (i) revenue and (ii)capital for each year since 1992 (A) in nominal terms and (B) at 2003–04 prices; and what the projected spending is for the next three years.

Ivor Caplin: Details of Ministry of Defence's housing expenditure are set out in the published accounts for the former Defence Housing Executive for 2001–02 to 2003–04 and these are available in the Library of the House.
	The information sought for years prior to 2001–02 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Projected spending for the next three years is still under consideration.
	I will write to the hon. Member with regard to the requested information on overseas housing.

Army Legal Service

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he intends to review the Army Legal Services; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: A study in 2004, by the Directorate of Management Consultancy Services into the organisational requirements of the Ministry of Defence Legal Advisor recommended that the future structure and organisation of Legal Services in the Department should be reviewed further. This work has yet to be taken forward. In addition, proposals for the forthcoming Armed Forces Bill, which will introduce a single system of Service law, will have implications for the prosecuting arm of the Director of Army Legal Services' organisation notably through the creation of a single prosecuting authority to replace the three separate Service Prosecuting Authorities.

Autonomy plc

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts for which his Department is responsible have been awarded to Autonomy plc.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has no record of existing direct contracts with Autonomy plc. Although the company may be involved with the MOD at a sub-contract level, this is not visible to us centrally.

B-52 Crash (1991)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the loss in February 1991 of the US B-52 bomber in the Indian Ocean en route to Diego Garcia; and whether survivors were subsequently landed at Diego Garcia.

Adam Ingram: In February 1991, a US B-52 bomber crashed in the waters just to the north of Diego Garcia after suffering a technical fault. Of the six US crew members on board, three were killed in the crash. The surviving three crew members were landed at Diego Garcia prior to being repatriated.

Battalion Costs

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) personnel costs and (b) equipment and maintenance costs were of (i) an armoured infantry (Warrior) battalion, (ii) an air-portable infantry battalion, (iii) a parachute regiment battalion and (iv) a Gurkha regiment battalion in the last year for which figures are available.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) personnel and (b) equipment and maintenance costs of (i) an armoured infantry (warrior) battalion, (ii) an air-portable infantry battalion, (iii) a parachute regiment battalion and (iv) a Gurkha regiment battalion were in the last period for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter dated 11 November from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent, Mr. G. Evans of Banffshire.

Adam Ingram: I wrote to the hon. Member on 7 February 2005.

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter dated 22 March 2004 from the hon. Member for Brent, East regarding Mr. Karel Bartosik.

Adam Ingram: I replied to the hon. Member on 22 April 2004, within our 15 working day target for answering all correspondence.

Cost Recovery (DFID)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 1080W, on military assistance following the tsunami, if he will list the costs his Department has recovered from the Department for International Development in relation to the relief effort following the Indian ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 February 2005
	No costs have yet been recovered by the Ministry of Defence from the Department for International Development for this assistance.

Deaths in Service

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has taken to invite the participation of bereaved relatives in hearings of Boards of Inquiry into the deaths of service personnel who have lost their lives in non-combat situations; what provision he has made to give relatives (a) full disclosure of statements available to the Board, (b) the right to address the Board, (c) the right to cross-examine witnesses and (d) copies of the transcript of proceedings at a reasonable cost; whether he has provided for the costs of legal representation to the families to be met from the public purse; and whether it is his policy that the Board of Inquiry would sit in public.

Ivor Caplin: The Services, as part of their system of support to bereaved relatives, seek to provide full information on the progress of inquiries. However, a Board of Inquiry is an internal inquiry held to investigate the facts of an incident in order to prevent recurrence. It is not a court of law and it does not fulfil the same function as a Coroner's inquest (or a Procurator Fiscal's inquiry in Scotland), which is to establish the cause of death. Boards of Inquiry do not sit in public; and members of the public, bereaved relatives and the press have no right to be present. It has been the policy of the MOD since December 1992 to make available to the next of kin, at no cost, copies of completed Board of Inquiry reports, subject only to the redaction of security sensitive information and third party data, and the avoidance of prejudice to any other investigation.

Defence Airfield Review

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Defence Airfield Review has been completed; how the review differs from the Airfields Review Study; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Airfield Review is still in progress; there is no separate airfield review study. On the current status of the review, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 21 to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).

Defence Logistic Organisation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Department's Defence Logistic Organisation employees are located in the West Midlands region.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 January 2005 a total of 2,110 Defence Logistic Organisation civilian personnel were located in the West Midlands.
	The civilian personnel figure listed above uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa.mod.uk for details), and is based on full time equivalent (FTE) data.
	For Service Personnel, data by budgetary area for the United Kingdom as a whole are collated annually and presented in Table 2.2 of UKDS, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.
	DASA are currently reviewing the source data and process by which UK Location statistics for Service Personnel are compiled. New figures will not be available until the review is complete. The outcome of this review is due to be announced later this month.

Defence Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the defence procurement contracts with a value of greater than £5 million in each year since 1999 and (b) the companies involved in each of those contracts, indicating how many have their headquarters in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) the rest of Europe and (iv) the US.

Adam Ingram: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department spent on (a) stationery and (b) office supplies in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The following table details how much the department has spent on stationery and office supplies since 1997.
	
		
			  Financial year Stationery including office supplies-figures excl. VAT (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 28,151,808 
			 1998–99 26,932,195 
			 1999–2000 23,310,909 
			 2000–01 23,813,768 
			 2001–02 25,056,520 
			 2002–03 24,743,264 
			 2003–04 23,742,105

Departmental Policies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Pendle constituency, the effects on Pendle of his Department's policies and activities since 2nd May 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has a small presence within Pendle, in the form of an Army Cadet Force centre at Barnoldswick, this has not undergone any significant changes since 1997.
	Since 2 May 1997, the Department has placed a number of contracts with companies based within Pendle, most notably with Euravia Engineering & Supply Co of Barnoldswick and TUF Tools Ltd. of Colne.

Departmental Staff and Facilities (Scotland)

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated human resources bill associated with his Department's facilities in Scotland is for the 2004–05 financial year.

Ivor Caplin: Estimates of personnel costs by region will be published in the Country and Regional Analysis 2005 as part of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis, which is due to be published in May 2005.

Departmental Staff and Facilities (Scotland)

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many armed forces personnel are based in Scotland;
	(2)  how many armed forces civilian support staff are based in Scotland.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence Analytical Services Agency is currently reviewing the source data and process by which UK location statistics are compiled. New figures will not be available until the review is complete. The outcome of this review is due to be announced later this month.
	There are 6,980 civilian personnel based in Scotland at 1 January 2005.

Departmental Staff and Facilities (Scotland)

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated capital value is of his Department's buildings and facilities based in Scotland.

Ivor Caplin: The value of the defence estate in Scotland is £1.25 billion, excluding property in the course of disposal. This figure, taken from the 2002 quinquennial revaluation of the estate which is the most recent available, is an asset valuation.
	The estate is currently being revalued on a rolling programme, which will be complete in 2007.

Electoral Registration

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are serving overseas; and how many of these have submitted overseas service declarations to their electoral registration officer (a) in 2004 and (b) to date in 2005.

Ivor Caplin: As at October last year, when data was last collated centrally, there were approximately 42,000 service personnel based permanently overseas or engaged on operations.
	Service personnel overseas may opt to register to vote as a service voter or overseas voters. It is not possible to identify service voters separately from overseas voters. Neither it possible to identify separately service personnel registered in the UK as ordinary voters, nor whether service registered voters are based in the UK or abroad.

Electoral Registration

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the advice contained in the Army Families Advice Bureau Factsheet 7.1 on the Ministry of Defence website states that a serviceman only needs to complete F/Vote/33 once during his career unless there is a change of circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 9 February 2005
	The latest instruction to service personnel on voter registration options was Joint Service Defence Council Instruction issued on 28 January 2005. It was placed on the MOD's internal website, reinforced with the release of a Defence Internal Brief, signal and distribution of an information leaflets to all units, and TV and radio coverage on British Forces Broadcasting Service. A press brief was also offered to in-house MOD publications.
	I can however confirm that out of date information remained on the Army Welfare Service information pages. This was an oversight which was corrected immediately when it came to our attention.

European Armaments Research and Military Capabilities Agency

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the objectives are of the Government's policy on the European Armaments Research and Military Capabilities Agency.

Adam Ingram: The Government are a strong supporter of the European Defence Agency, as it is now known. The Agency will drive forward work on improving European defence capabilities by encouraging and supporting the efforts of individual EU member states.
	By rationalising and harmonising capability requirements, and linking those directly to industrial and research efforts, the Agency will significantly strengthen both the European Security and Defence Policy and Europe's contribution to NATO.

Falcon Communications System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on the procurement of the Falcon secure communications system.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 730W to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope).

Falklands Anniversary

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what talks have taken place between (a) Falklands veterans, (b) Falklands representatives and Government and (c) the British Legion and his Department on marking the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War.

Ivor Caplin: I met the Chairman of the South Atlantic Medal Association (82) on 1 February to discuss the form commemorations might take. The Falkland Islands Government has recently set up a committee to consider the 25th anniversary of the war in 2007 and Ministry of Defence officials will be liaising with that committee through the Falkland Islands Government office in London. The Department has had no talks with The Royal British Legion on this subject.

Harrier Aircraft

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace Harrier jets deployed in Afghanistan with Jaguars.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to replace the Harriers based at Kandahar with Jaguars.

Infantry Regiments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 730W, on infantry regiments, what other options were proposed as names for the new regiment; and for what reason the name does not include the word Royal.

Adam Ingram: As has been made clear in previous responses, the process of restructuring the infantry has been worked through by the Army in consultation with the divisions and regiments concerned. As part of this process, infantry divisions were asked to suggest options for new regimental titles. 'The Royal Lancashire Regiment' was put forward by the King's Division as an option for the new regimental title. However, of the options put forward by the Division, the proposed title of the 'King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment' was judged by the Army Board to best reflect all the antecedent regiments from which it will be drawn. This was felt to be particularly important because of the fact that this reorganisation involved the merging of three previously distinct regiments, into a two-battalion regiment. That the word 'Royal' is not included in the new title should not be taken as an omission. Rather it simply reflects the fact that, of the options put forward by the Division, the one settled upon by the Army Board happened not to contain the word 'Royal'.

Iran

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the financial value of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines' equipment which remains in the possession of the Iranian authorities.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 February 2005
	The estimated financial value of the equipment held by the Iranian authorities is just over £130,000.

Iraq

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the medical units serving in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: In MND(SE) the five General Support Medical Regiment (RAMC) and the Hospital Squadron from 33 Field Hospital are the main medical units. They are supported by a number of augmentees from all three services. In addition, at Basrah Airport there is a RAF medical facility formed from a variety of RAF medical services and each United Kingdom battlegroup has its own intrinsic medical support in the form of a Regimental Aid Post.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from British troops in Iraq on the effectiveness of (a) SA80A2 rifles, (b) Minimi light machineguns and (c) grenade launchers; what length of training troops received in the use of each weapon prior to deployment; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As part of the lessons identified process following Op Telic, which draws on the experiences of those in theatre, it was concluded that the SA80 A2 had performed well in theatre. The Minimi light machine gun and the underslung grenade launcher, procured as urgent operational requirements, also performed well. Indeed, these are now being brought into full service following the success of the UOR variants.
	No individual conversion training is given to soldiers issued with SA80 A2 as the drills for using the weapon are very similar to the Al version. Personnel are required to be advised of the new cleaning regime required for the modified parts of the weapon together with being issued updated user publications during unit briefings.
	Soldiers are required to complete the mandatory weapon handling test and familiarisation firing of the weapon before being issued with the Minimi light machine gun or grenade launcher. This has been conducted either prior to deployment or in theatre as part of reception staging and onward integration training.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Iraqi and (b) non-Iraqi nationals are held in prisons administered by United Kingdom armed forces; how many of these prisoners are female; how many are aged under 16 years; how many have been transferred from United States administered prisons; how many have been (i) tried and (ii) sentenced since March 2003; how old the (A) oldest and (B) youngest detainee is; and if he will list the offences under which detainees are being held.

Adam Ingram: As at 7 February 2005, there were thirty three internees held in the UK Divisional Temporary Detention Facility in Iraq, which is the only such facility administered by the UK. Thirty-two are Iraqi nationals and one has both Iraqi and British nationality. None of the internees are female, and none have stated that they are under eighteen. Three were transferred from US custody in December 2004.
	None of these internees have been tried or sentenced. They are held in custody as security internees on the grounds that they are deemed to be an imperative threat to security. Any Iraqis taken into custody by UK forces who are not deemed to be an imperative threat to security, but are suspected of criminal activity, are transferred to the Iraqi authorities at the earliest possible opportunity.
	The oldest internee currently held by the UK has stated that he is sixty-two. The youngest we are aware of has stated that he is twenty.

Landing Ships Contract

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State forDefence what the original contract price was for the delivery by Swan Hunter of two landing ships dock (auxiliary) vessels; and whether there has been a change in that contractual price since award of the contract.

Adam Ingram: The original contract with Swan Hunter for design and build of two LSD(A)s was valued at £148 million. This has since been increased to £232 million, with a further £3 million added to cover enhancements that have included aspects to ensure the vessels comply with the latest statutory safety requirements.

Manpower

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total manpower is of in role (a) airborne engineer forces, (b) airborne Army logistic forces, (c) parachute artillery forces and (d) airborne Army medical forces; and what the cost was of each of those forces in the last year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: The military manpower numbers for the relevant formations, for Financial Year 2003–04, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Ser  Unit title Manpower totals 
		
		
			 (a) 23 Engineer Regiment 176 
			 (b) 13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC 590 
			 (c) 7 (Para) Royal Horse Artillery 447 
			 (d) 16 Close Support Medical Regiment 273 
		
	
	The information relating to the costs of these forces is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Medical Supplies Agency

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Medical Supplies Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and what the figures were in 2003–04.

Adam Ingram: Medical Supplies Agency (MSA) currently employs 312 staff, seven of whom are employed at the Medical Distribution Centre, Greenock, Scotland. In accordance with MSA Annual Report and Accounts 2003–04, 380 staff were employed in 2003–04 with nine employed at the Medical Distribution Centre, Greenock. The MSA total staff cost for 2003–04 was £8.489 million with a forecast of £8.996 million for this year.

Mobile Phones

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many mobile telephones have been reported lost or stolen from the Department in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year;
	(2)  what the cost of staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1226–227W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis).

NATO Transformation Programme

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made on the NATO Transformation Programme in respect of British forces.

Geoff Hoon: NATO has made good progress since the Prague Summit in 2002 in transforming its capabilities through initiatives such as the Prague Capabilities Commitment, the NATO Response Force (NRF), and the streamlining of its command structures.
	Key to the transformation process is the delivery of flexible, deployable, sustainable, technologically advanced and interoperable armed forces that are capable of undertaking the full spectrum of modem military missions required by the new international security environment. The United Kingdom's armed forces are, of course, already well down this route as a result of the changes introduced in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (Cm 3999), the SDR New Chapter of 2002 (Cm 5566) and the 2004 Future Capabilities Paper (Cm 6269).
	The UK's armed forces are well suited to, and continue to play a leading role in providing capability to the NRF, NATO's principal tool for the transformation of its military capability.

Network Interoperability

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for improving network interoperability; what Ministry of Defence agency is responsible for funding the Joint Network Management System and Multiple Tactical Datalink Management Systems; what the nature is of the relationship between these two systems; how they will interact with the US Joint Interface Control Officers Support System; what the time scale is for each project; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Improving interoperability between networks is a key theme of Network Enabled Capability, and there are a number of initiatives to this end. The Joint Network Management System is a programme funded by the Defence Communication Services Agency to manage tactical datalink networks in the UK. The Multiple Tactical Datalink Management System (MTDMS) forms part of a programme funded from the Equipment Plan to provide a deployable tactical datalink management capability for out of area operations. Neither programme has yet received final approval to proceed but our current planning assumption is that they will be introduced in 2006. The two systems address different requirements but they are required to be interoperable as there are circumstances when the MTDMS could be used in the UK. The MTDMS is intended to be usable in operations with US forces and we are therefore monitoring closely the development of the US Joint Interface Control Officers Support System.

Overseas Defence Estates

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the defence estates the Department has overseas.

Ivor Caplin: The MOD overseas estate comprises airfields, ports, warehousing, barracks, schools, technical facilities and supporting infrastructure (power, water, wastewater, communications, etc.), Service Family Accommodation (SFA), commercial facilities and training areas. Details are as follows.
	
		
			 Country Facility 
		
		
			 Bahamas Autos Island 
			 Belize Price Barracks—HQ British Army Training Support Unit Belize 4other training areas adventure training facility 
			 Brunei (facilities owned and operated by Brunei Government) 
			 Canada Suffield—British Army Training Unit Suffield Goose Bay—in process of handback Wain right Camp—in process of handback 
			 Kenya Kifaru Camp Nairobi—British Army Training Unit Kenya Extensive leased up-country training areas 
			 Nepal Kathmandu—HQ Brigade of Gurkhas Nepal, Pokhara 
			 Norway Stavangar, Bardufoss 
			 Singapore Sembawang 
			 South Atlantic Falkland Islands, Ascension Island and St. Helena— weather station 
			 USA Washington DC (leased SFA) 
			 Cyprus Episkopi Garrison RAF Akrotiri Dhekelia Garrison Troodos/Olympus Aya Nikolaos Station 
			 Diego Garcia Port and Storage facilities (all other facilities owned and operated by the USAF) 
			 Gibraltar Gibraltar Garrison and other facilities 
			 Falkland Islands Mount Pleasant Airfield Various hill top Radar/Tech sites Various helicopter Re-fuelling sites 
		
	
	All of the estate in Germany is owned by the German government and occupied by MOD under SOFA and its supplementary agreements. The German estate is located within five main garrison areas:
	
		
			 Country Facility 
		
		
			 Hohne Garrison, including: Fallingbostel and Celle 
			 Osnabrück Garrison, including: Munster and Rhiene 
			 Gütersloh Garrison, including: Herford, Bielefeld, Lubbecke and Bunde 
			 Paderborn Garrison, including: Sennelager and Hameln 
			 Rhine Garrison, including: JHQ Rheindahlen, Dulmen and Elmpt 
		
	
	Additionally there are major training areas located at Senne and Haltern and smaller training areas in Paderborn, Gütersloh, Osnabrück and Rhine Garrisons.
	In addition, a small numbers of leased properties are occupied in:
	
		
			 Country Facility 
		
		
			 Belgium Brussels, Antwerp, Mons 
			 Germany Ramstein 
			 Holland Brunssum 
			 Italy Rome, Milan, Naples, Verona 
			 Norway Stavangar 
			 Portugal Lisbon 
			 Spain Madrid, Valencia 
			 Turkey Izmir, Istanbul 
			 Russia Moscow (one residence)

Parachute Battalion (Costs)

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of (a) an in role parachute battalion and (b) a parachute battalion not in role was in the last year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Parking Spaces

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many car parking spaces are provided for those (a) working in and (b) visiting his Department.

Ivor Caplin: Provision of car parking space on defence establishments worldwide is determined locally, taking into account availability of public transport links, space on the establishments, and operational requirements.
	Centrally held records of defence estate assets do not identify provision of car parking space, and would require disproportionate cost to collect this information.

Pendle Hill Munitions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the munitions recovered on Pendle Hill, Lancashire, in the last four years.

Ivor Caplin: Since 1 January 2001, a total of 95 live items and 5478 expended items have been cleared from Pendle Hill, Lancashire. This data is correct as at 1 Febuary 2005.
	
		
			  Live items Expended items 
			  Nature Number Nature Number 
		
		
			 2001 Mortar 3 12 Mortar 2 smoke 376 
			  Mortar 2 Smoke 2 Fin Mortar 3 861 
			  Mortar 2 1 Fin Projectile Infantry Anti Tank (PIAT) 1 
			  PIAT 1   
			  Mortar 2 high explosive (HE) 2   
			  
			 2003 Mortar 3 18 Mortar 2 Smoke 299 
			  Mortar 2 HE 4 Fin Mortar 3 1,445 
			  Mortar 2 Smoke 1 Fin Mortar 2 13 
			  Mortar 2 Parachute illumination (Para Ilium) 2 PIAT 1 
			  PIAT 1 Fuse mortar 3 107 
			  Mortar 3 HE 4 Mortar 3 7 
			Mortar 3 HE 1 
			Fuse 15 
			Mortar Spigot practice 1 
			mortar 2 Para Ilium 2 
			  
			 2004 Mortar 3 20 3 Fin Mortar 1,726 
			  PIAT 2 Fin PIAT 1 
			  Fuse mortar 3 1 3 Fuse mortar 185 
			  Mills grenade no 36 1 2 mortar 4 
			  Mortar 2 Para Ilium 2 2 mortar Para Ilium 1 
			  Mortar 2 smoke 14 2 mortar smoke 342 
			  Mortar 3 HE 3 3 mortar 26 
			  Mortar 2 HE 3 3 mortar HE 18 
			PIAT 9 
			PIAT spigot 1 
			spigot 2 
			  
			 2005 2 Mortar smoke 1 3 Fin mortar 18 
			3 fuse mortar 4 
			2 mortar smoke 12

Pensions

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel in each service have opted to move to the new pension arrangements; and what proportion of serving personnel that represents in each case.

Ivor Caplin: These details will not be available until April 2006. Individual Offers to Transfer packs will be sent to members of the current scheme between mid July 2005 and the end of October 2005, for a Transfer Date of 6 April 2006.

Pentagon (Nuclear Weapons Plans)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from his United States counterpart in respect of Pentagon plans to build earth-penetrating nuclear weapons designed to destroy hardened underground targets.

Geoff Hoon: None. Although US policy is a matter for that Government, I understand that to date it has only sought to conduct studies into the concept of such weapons and has no plans to build any.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on postage by the Department in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The cost of postage is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Rapid Deployment

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to procure equipment to improve the rapid deployability of the British armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The 'Future Capabilities' White Paper published in July 2003 explains how we plan to make the armed forces more flexible and deployable. At sea, deployability has already been improved through six new Roll-On-Roll-Off ships. A robust and modern amphibious capability, based around two new ships, HMS Alibon and Bulwark, supported by the Bay Class landing ships, will provide a step change in our ability to launch and support forces ashore. For the Army, there will be a shift in emphasis towards light and medium weight forces. These will be supported by a number of new equipment programmes, including the Future Rapid Effects System family of vehicles and the Light Mobile Artillery Weapon System. In the air, aswell as introducing 25 A400M aircraft from 2011, wenow intend to buy our current fleet of four leased C-17 aircraft together with one additional aircraft, significantly increasing our strategic lift capability.

Recruitment (Scotland)

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recruitment levels to the armed forces in the past three months from applicants in Scotland.

Ivor Caplin: The number of personnel recruited into the armed forces other ranks from applications registered in Scotland from 1 October to 31 December 2004 was 322. Information for officers is not available on a regional basis.

Research Expenditure

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on research by his Department in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to Table 1.7 of United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2004, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Research Expenditure

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's research budget is spent on the development of new weaponry.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's research budget is focussed on examining technical possibilities in a variety of technology areas. These can be exploited through many different routes to new techniques, concepts and equipment. It is not possible to definitively split weaponry research out of that on materials, electronics, system integration, engines, communications and others. The development of technology into equipment is handled by the Defence Procurement Agency and it has a development budget that is spent on specific items such as satellites, communications equipment, vehicles, and weaponry, such as small arms, missiles, artillery. As we do not collate information on research activity in the way requested, it would be disproportionately expensive to provide a more detailed breakdown.

Royal Navy

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many orders were placed for Royal Navy ships in each year between 1980 and 2004.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 4 February 2005
	Details of past orders for Royal Navy ships and the year in which they were placed is not held centrally and would involve disproportionate cost to collate in a way that ensured the information was complete. Readily available data on orders placed in each year is shown in the following table: these total 39. In comparison, records show that 125 vessels entered service over the same period. Design and build lead times mean that a number of these vessels would have been ordered before 1980.
	
		
			  Orders placed 
		
		
			 1980 — 
			 1981 — 
			 1982 — 
			 1983 1 
			 1984 2 
			 1985 — 
			 1986 8 
			 1987 5 
			 1988 4 
			 1989 — 
			 1990 1 
			 1991 — 
			 1992 1 
			 1993 1 
			 1994 — 
			 1995 — 
			 1996 2 
			 1997 3 
			 1998 — 
			 1999 — 
			 2000 5 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 — 
			 2004 — 
		
	
	The table includes all Royal Navy surface ships and submarines and excludes Royal Fleet auxiliary vessels, any vessels chartered for Royal Fleet auxiliary use and the six-ship RoRo Strategic Sealift PFI service.

Royal School of Military Engineering

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he intends that final payment on the Royal School of Military Engineering private finance initiative project should be made; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Royal School of Military Engineering Public Private Partnership (PPP) is currently subject to the Ministry of Defence's Approvals process. If approval is granted, full negotiations will begin with the Preferred Bidder. It is not possible, at this stage, to state when the PPP contract will begin and when final payment would therefore be made, which would be 30 years after the start of service delivery.

Scottish Regiments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where he plans permanently to base the battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Adam Ingram: No decisions have been made on the future locations for the five Battalions of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

St. John's Wood Barracks

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of St.John's Wood barracks; and for how long he expects the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery to be stationed there.

Ivor Caplin: There are currently no plans to relocate the King's Troop from St. John's Wood barracks, which is occupied by the Ministry of Defence under a lease agreement. The lease is due to expire in 2012. As with all lease arrangements within the Department, our requirements beyond the expiry date will be subject to review.

Submarines

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Submarine Acquisition Modernisation Initiative: who the participants are; and what the (a) purpose and (b) timescale of its workis.

Adam Ingram: The purpose of the Submarine Acquisition Modernisation (SAM) project is, through a coherent, long-term approach to the management of the nuclear submarine programme, to implement a more efficient, more effective and sustainable submarine enterprise through life, leading to a significant reduction in whole life costs and greater submarine availability.
	SAM is a joint project, with MOD and industry working in collaboration. It is led by a MOD team leader, with membership drawn from BAE Systems, Devonport Management Limited, Babcock Naval Services and Rolls Royce, together with key MOD project and change management teams. The aim is to reach agreement in principle on the future management arrangements during spring 2005. Subject to approval by Government and industry stakeholders, the long-term aim is to begin implementation by early 2007.
	The SAM project forms part of a wider strategy for optimising the UK industrial maritime base: other elements include the UK Naval Shipbuilding Industrial Strategy which is currently addressing future loading and skills retention within the surface shipbuilding industry, and the Surface Ship Support Study, which is addressing the in-service support strategy for surface ships.

Tanzania

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what stage the prosecution of Brett Richard Mallinson and David Moffett of the Light Dragoon Guards by the legal authorities of Tanzania has reached;
	(2)  what disciplinary action has been taken against soldiers and officers of (a) the Light Dragoon Guards and (b) other regiments following the death of Conjesta Ulikaye in Dar es Salaam in November 2004; what steps have been taken to establish a Board of Inquiry to investigate the background to her death; and whether an apology or expression of sympathy has been made to (i) the family of Conjesta Ulikaye and (ii) the Government of Tanzania.

Adam Ingram: The Tanzanian Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that there is to be no prosecution of Brett Mallinson or David Moffett in connection with the death of Conjesta Ulikaye in Dar es Salaam in November 2004.
	It is not Ministry of Defence policy to discuss internal employment matters. The requirement for a Board of Inquiry is currently being considered.
	It has not been appropriate to make an apology or expression of sympathy to family of Conjesta Ulikaye or the Government of Tanzania in relation to this incident.

Trident

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how many (a) direct and (b) indirect civilian jobs in (i) Scotland and (ii) the rest of the UK rely upon the Trident programme.

Geoff Hoon: The number of civilian jobs which directly rely upon the Trident programme is estimated to be 936 in Scotland, with an additional 6,640 in the rest of the United Kingdom. The number of civilian jobs which indirectly rely upon the Trident programme is estimated to be 300 in Scotland and 5,700 for the rest of the UK.

War Remnants (Iraq)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many explosive remnants of war have been cleared in Iraq to date; at what cost; how many casualties have resulted; what assessment has been made of the amount remaining; how much longer the clearance is expected to take; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Significant quantities of munitions exist in Iraq as a result of the most recent period of hostilities, as well as the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict and Iraq's conflict with Iran. These consist of large stockpiles of Captured Enemy Ammunition (CEA) as well as explosive remnants of war, and the United Kingdom is not responsible for clearing these munitions, but any details of sites we hold are passed onto the relevant organisations.
	The clearance of CEA is organised across Iraq by the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and is done by civilian contractors, non-governmental organisations and military Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. Over 850,000 individual munitions have been cleared from MND(SE). We do not have details of progress made by other coalition partners. Neither the total cost of the clearance of CEA nor the number of casualties from unexploded ordnance is available.

Warships

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencewhat he expects the average age by 2009 of the Royal Navy's (a) frigate fleet and (b) destroyer fleet tobe.

Adam Ingram: By 2009 the average age of a Royal Navy frigate will be around 15 years and of a destroyer around 25 years.

Warships

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencehow many new (a) frigates and (b) destroyers will be delivered to the Royal Navy between 2005 and 2009.

Adam Ingram: The first of class type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, is planned to enter service in 2009. There are no plans to deliver any new Royal Navy frigates or destroyers before then.

HEALTH

Abortion

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend section 1(3a) of the Abortion Act 1967 to allow women to have abortions at home.

Melanie Johnson: All abortions in England are currently carried out in a national health service hospital or an approved independent sector place. There are no current plans to change this.

Accident and Emergency Services

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of (a) the new general practitioner contract and (b) the four-hour waiting time target for accident and emergency attendances on the demand for accident and emergency services.

Rosie Winterton: The available evidence shows no relationship between the new general practitioner contract and demand for accident and emergency (Aand E) services. Rising demand for emergency care is a trend that long predates this change or the four hour A and E target.
	Factors involved in recent reported rises in demand include the better range of services now available, together with the improved reporting and increased patient satisfaction that the progress in cutting A and E waits has delivered.

Accident and Emergency Services

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated in accident and emergency departments in hospitals in Worcestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Data were not collected centrally on an individual trust basis prior to 2000–01. The table shows the number of first attendances, follow up attendances and total attendances for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust from 2000–01 up to and including the second quarter of 2004–05.
	
		
			  First attendances Follow up attendances Total attendances 
		
		
			 2000–01(38) 115,644 6,702 122,346 
			 2001–02(38) 114,966 7,302 122,268 
			 2002–03(39) 116,366 7,556 123,922 
			 2003–04(39) 120,407 7,406 127,813 
			 2004–05 quarters 1 and 2(39) 66,892 2,006 68,898 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures include attendances at major accident and emergency departments and minor injuries units. The figures include all type1 (major A and E), 2 or 3 (which include minor injuries units and walk-in-centres) A and E services that a trust provides.
	Sources:
	(38)Department of Health form KH09.
	(39)Department of Health dataset QMAE.

Accident and Emergency Services

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat plans he has to relocate the accident and emergency department at the Royal County Hospital, Winchester.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 9 February 2005
	In line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power, decisions about the configuration of local health services are made locally by primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community, including the provision of accident and emergency services.

Accident and Emergency Services

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Taunton and (b) Somerset used accident and emergency services in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Attendances at accident and emergency departments, minor injury units and walk in centres, national health service organisations in England, 2000–01 to quarter 2 (Q2) 2004–05
		
			   Up to Q2 2004–05 2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01 
		
		
			 RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust 19,941 39,884 39,784 39,379 37,813 
			 5FX Mendip PCT 13,780 23,046 4,690 19,449 — 
			 5FW Somerset Coast PCT 15,324 28,801 — — — 
			 5K1 South Somerset PCT 1,092 1,834 867 — — 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 24,155 44,994 74,946 76,024 73,632 
			 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 16,289 28,383 14,473 13,850 — 
			 5M8 North Somerset PCT 4,681 9,374 — — — 
			 Total  99,578 183,292 145,189 158,437 111,445 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health dataset QMAE/KH09.

Alcohol Misuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of alcohol-related problems in the under 60s.

Melanie Johnson: The alcohol harm reduction strategy for England takes a cross Government approach to reducing harm caused by alcohol. Data is listed from hospital episode statistics where the primary diagnosis or cause code shows incidence of alcohol- related problems available specifically for the age range 'under 60s'.
	
		Counts of finished in-year admissions where there was a primary diagnosis code or cause code for selected alcohol related diseases. Age at admission up to 60 years—national health service hospitals, England 2003–04
		
			 Primary diagnosis Admissions 
		
		
			 F10.0—Acute intoxication 8,937 
			 F10.1—Harmful use 2,012 
			 F10.2—Dependence syndrome 8,946 
			 F10.3—Withdrawal state 6,023 
			 F10.4—Withdrawal state with delirium 858 
			 F10.5—Psychotic disorder 370 
			 F10.6—Amnesic syndrome 142 
			 F10.7—Residual and late-onset psychotic disorder 52 
			 F10.8—Other mental and behavioural disorders 52 
			 F10.9—Unspecified mental and behavioural disorders 506 
			 K70—Alcoholic liver disease 9,543 
			 T51—Toxic effect of alcohol 1,424 
			   
			 Cause code  
			 X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Finished in-year admissions—A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2.Diagnosis (primary diagnosis)—The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3.Cause code—The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects.
	4.Ungrossed data—Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Alzheimer's Disease

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the availability, in advance of the outcome of the appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, of Ebixa on the NHS for advanced Alzheimer's disease;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued to (a) primary care trusts and (b) other funding organisations regarding the availability, in advance of the outcome of the appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, of Ebixa on the NHS for advanced Alzheimer's disease; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations he has received regarding the availability of Ebixa for advanced Alzheimer's disease; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Appraisal Guidance No. 19, relating to the use of Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, was issued in January 2001. This guidance is currently under review, and the revised version due for publication in July 2005 will include an assessment of Memantine Hydrochloride (Ebixa).
	I have received a number of representations on the availability of Ebixa since the product received its license.
	In August 1999, the Department issued Health Service Circular 1999/176, which asks national health service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from NICE is not published at the time the technology first becomes available in the United Kingdom. These arrangements should involve an assessment of the available evidence.

Ambulance Drivers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for UK ambulance drivers' working time limits of European Court of Justice cases C-397/01 to C403/01, reference OJC300 vol. 47 of 4 December 2004.

John Hutton: The Pfeiffer judgment should not have implications for United Kingdom ambulance staff because the vast majority work less than 48 hours per week, on average. Ambulance staff who sign the individual opt-out can legitimately work more than an average of 48 hours per week.

Cancer Specialists

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many trained cancer specialists were practising in England (a) by headcount and (b) expressed as a whole-time equivalent figure in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many cancer specialist students began training in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many cancer specialists qualified in each year since 1997; and what his policy is on the optimum number of cancer specialists.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 February 2005
	The number of consultants, within the cancer specialties, who were working in the national health service since September 1997 is shown in table one.
	The number of staff in the registrar group within the cancer specialties, in each year since September 1997 is shown in table two.
	The number of specialist registrars who became consultants within the cancer specialties in each year since September 1997 is shown in table three.
	It is for cancer networks, in partnership with strategic health authority workforce development directorates and postgraduate deaneries, to plan their workforce. This includes the education and training needs of all staff and will be linked to local and national priorities for cancer.
	
		Table 1: Hospital, medical consultants within the cancer specialties -- numbers (headcount) and whole time equivalents
		
			  September 1997 September 1998 September 1999 September 2000 September 2001 
			  no wte no wte no wte no wte no wte 
		
		
			 All 'Cancer' specialties 3,155 2,897 3,273 2,991 3,362 3,082 3,528 3,183 3,721 3,331 
			 Clinical oncology 287 265 299 277 305 283 307 279 333 299 
			 Clinical radiology 1,442 1,364 1,481 1,387 1,507 1,414 1,585 1,460 1,645 1,492 
			 Haematology 488 447 478 437 510 465 527 475 556 500 
			 Histopathology 769 692 828 748 836 760 865 778 915 827 
			 Medical oncology 89 68 102 79 110 87 133 103 147 120 
			 Palliative medicine 80 61 85 64 94 73 111 88 125 94 
		
	
	
		
			  March 2002 September 2002 March 2003 June 2003 September 2003 
			  no wte no wte no wte no wte no wte 
		
		
			 All 'Cancer' specialties 3,864 3,534 3,913 3,569 4,059 3,704 4,096 3,730 4,169 3,787 
			 Clinical oncology 316 292 315 295 366 334 367 337 347 325 
			 Clinical radiology 1,679 1,575 1,702 1,582 1,781 1,658 1,794 1,669 1,810 1,669 
			 Haematology 575 521 588 532 598 541 590 530 609 549 
			 Histopathology 959 876 968 882 994 915 1,015 936 1,021 939 
			 Medical oncology 183 151 185 152 172 141 176 141 202 167 
			 Palliative medicine 152 118 155 125 148 114 154 118 180 138 
		
	
	
		
			  December 2003 March 2004 June 2004 
			  no wte no wte no wte 
		
		
			 All 'Cancer' specialties 4,240 3,841 4,332 3,932 4,337 3,940 
			 Clinical oncology 358 332 376 347 381 353 
			 Clinical radiology 1,822 1,680 1,862 1,720 1,859 1,721 
			 Haematology 632 568 32 567 632 569 
			 Histopathology 1,036 950 1,070 985 1,075 986 
			 Medical oncology 211 173 197 164 195 160 
			 Palliative medicine 181 138 95 149 195 151 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	
		Table 2: Hospital, Public Health medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): New cancer registrars(40)1998–2003 -- England, as at 30 Septembernumbers (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 All cancer specialties 370 421 473 478 590 520 517 
			 of which:
			 Medical oncology 26 56 59 48 48 48 67 
			 Clinical oncology 54 46 51 52 70 68 52 
			 Haematology 56 72 86 58 82 90 76 
			 Histopathology 61 68 77 73 125 107 100 
			 Clinical radiology 153 157 188 208 238 180 191 
			 Palliative medicine 20 22 12 39 27 27 31 
		
	
	(40)The term new cancer registrars" denotes those registrars who have a cancer specialty, and did not appear in the census as registrars in the previous year.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	
		Table 3: Hospital, Public Health medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): New cancer consultants(41) 1998–2003 -- England, as at 30 Septembernumbers (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 All cancer specialties 120 113 99 114 130 123 140 
			 of which:
			 Medical oncology 5 5 1 9 10 9 11 
			 Clinical oncology 15 19 16 14 14 15 14 
			 Haematology 13 14 12 14 20 12 18 
			 Histopathology 35 22 21 17 29 18 16 
			 Clinical radiology 50 50 45 55 52 60 77 
			 Palliative medicine 2 3 4 5 5 9 4 
		
	
	(41)The term new cancer consultants" denotes those consultants who have a cancer specialty, and who appeared in the census as a registrar in the previous year.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

Care Homes

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) privately owned and (b) local authority owned nursing and residential homes are located in the Easington constituency; and what the bed capacity is of each.

Melanie Johnson: Data are not available for the area requested. Information on the number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in County Durham at 31 March 2001 is shown in the table.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in County Durham(42), 31 March 2001
		
			  Residential Nursing(43) Total(44) 
			  Local authority Independent Independent  
		
		
			 Homes 40 220 100 350 
			 Places 1,080 4,000 3,250 8,330 
		
	
	(42)Nursing care relates to County Durham health authority; residential care relates to Durham and Darlington councils with social services responsibilities.
	(43)Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.
	(44)Figures may not add up due to rounding.
	Source:
	RA and RH(N) form A

Care Homes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) privately owned and (b) local authority owned care homes there are in the Vale of York; where each is located; and what the bed capacity of each is.

Melanie Johnson: Data are not available for the area requested. Information on the number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in North Yorkshire at 31 March 2001 is shown in the table.
	Information on individual locations of care homes and the capacity of each is not available centrally.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of independent and local authority-owned care homes and places for adults aged 18 and over in North Yorkshire(45) at 31 March 2001 -- Rounded numbers
		
			  Independent(46)(5507390047) Local authority(48) 
		
		
			 Homes 510 40 
			 Places 9,230 1,320 
		
	
	(45)Nursing care relates to North Yorkshire health authority; residential care relates to York and North Yorkshire councils with social services responsibilities.
	(46)Independent home figures includes nursing and residential care homes
	(47)Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.
	(48)Local authority home figures include residential care homes only.
	Source:
	RA and RH(N) form A

Chiropodists/Podiatrists

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with organisations representing chiropodists and podiatrists; and what issues were discussed.

Stephen Ladyman: I met the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists on 4 November 2004 and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health met the Allied Health Professions Federation on 14 October 2004 and 31 January 2005. We cannot comment on discussions with particular organisations unless the body concerned has indicated to what extent it wishes us to.

Chiropodists/Podiatrists

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of practising chiropodists and podiatrists who will not seek registration with the Health Professional Council.

John Hutton: The title chiropodist or podiatrist is dependent upon achieving registration with the independent regulator, the Health Protection Council (HPC). In October 2004 10,123 chiropodists and podiatrists were registered with the HPC.

Community Hospitals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community hospitals there were in England in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer10 February 2005
	The Department does not collect this information.

Consultant Urologists

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant urologists are working in the NHS in the areas served by the (a) Birmingham and Black Country and (b) West Midlands South strategic health authority; and how many are over the age of 55years in each case.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the numbers of hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): consultants within the urology speciality in Birmingham and the Black Country strategic health authority (SHA) and West Midlands South SHA, and the numbers in each SHA within the specified age group.
	
		Number (headcount)
		
			 As at 30 June 2004 All ages Of which: 55 and over 
		
		
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 25 9 
			 West Midlands South 15 4 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii)2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Rosie Winterton: Expenditure by the Department on external consultancy and professional services in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1996–97 14.699 
			 1997–98 12.694 
			 1998–99 7.332 
			 1999–2000 8.132 
			 2000–01 6.531 
			 2001–02 6.800 
			 2002–03 7.266 
			 2003–04 10.031 
		
	
	Centrally held estimated consultancy costs for later years are not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Dentistry

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the results of his most recent meeting with the Scottish Health Minister on bringing in foreign dentists to Scotland.

Rosie Winterton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has not held a recent meeting with the Scottish Health Minister on bringing foreign dentists to Scotland.

Dentistry

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money his Department has spent in total on the Keeping in Touch scheme to recruit dentists back into the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of the Keeping in Touch (KIT) scheme in 2004–05 is £169,287 to date, covering grants to KIT scheme team members, salaries and administration costs.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the working group on undergraduate dental school places to publish its report; and whether the dental profession has been involved in the working group.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 January 2005
	The group, which included among its members the former Dean of Newcastle Dental School who is currently co-chair of the General Dental Council's Visiting Panel, held its final meeting on 19 November 2004. It recommended the establishment of a joint implementation group (JIG), co-chaired by the Department of Health and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The JIG held its first meeting on 18 January 2005 and will submit its initial proposals for consideration at the HEFCE board meeting on 24 February.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to attract more dentists to the Community Dental Service.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 January 2005
	On 15 December 2004, we issued for consultation a report, Creating the Future: Modernising careers for salaried dentists in primary care", copies of which are available in the Library. The report proposes reforms to the roles, education and career structures of salaried primary care dentists—those working in community dental services, salaried personal dental services and dental access centres, and salaried general dental practitioners—and the framework of leadership and pay principles within the context of wider reform of national health service dentistry. The consultation period ends on 31 March 2005.

Dentistry

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthhow many full-time equivalent dentists were employed by the NHS in England per 10,000 of the population in the last three years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Information on a whole time equivalent basis is not available, as dentists working in the general dental service (GDS) and personal dental service (PDS) are able to vary the amount of hours they work and to vary their national health service commitment. The majority of dentists working in the GDS do some private work.
	The available information is for the number of NHS dentists (headcount) per 10,000 population in England and is given in the table for September for the years 2002, 2003, 2004. The figures given cover dentists working in the GDS and PDS.
	
		
			 Year (September) Dentists per 10,000 of the population 
		
		
			 2002 3.84 
			 2003 3.88 
			 2004 4.01

Dentistry

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to increase the number of NHS dentists in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many NHS dentists are in practice in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 February 2005
	At 31 December 2004, there were 19,810 dentists (General Dental Service and Personal Dental Service) in practice in England and 259 in Gloucestershire.
	We are undertaking the most far-reaching reforms of national health service dentistry since 1948, supported by the biggest investment programme in the history of NHS dentistry. We are providing NHS dentistry with extra funding of over £250 million a year from 2005–06, an increase of nearly 20 per cent. over 2003–04 levels. We are also funding an extra 170 dental training places from this October (a 25 per cent. increase) supported by £80 million capital investment. We are recruiting the equivalent of 1,000 extra dentists this year and we have allocated £59 million to improve access to NHS dentistry.
	Within this programme, primary care trusts (PCTs) in the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) are planning to interview eight dentists from Poland. The SHA has received £2 million from the access funding and the three PCTs in Gloucestershire have reported proposals to spend their share on commissioning additional capacity to provide for the registration of 7,100 patients and the treatment of 900 additional orthodontic patients. In addition, West Gloucestershire PCT is one of the 16 PCTs in England receiving assistance from the Department's dental access support team. With the team's support a new dental practice has been established in Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, and there are plans to establish a new four surgery practice within the centre of Gloucester city by mid-2005.

Dentistry

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental schools are operating within the Greater London area.

Rosie Winterton: There are two undergraduate schools: Guy's Kings and St. Thomas', and Queen Mary's University London. In addition, the Eastman Dental Institute provides postgraduate training education for dentists.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) general dental service and (b) personal dental service dentists have left the NHS for wholly private practice in (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 1 February 2005
	We do not routinely collect information about dentists' private practice. The great majority of dental practices treat both private and national health service patients. The Office of Fair Trading Report, The private dentistry market in the UK", published in March 2003, estimated that, out of 11,000 dental practices, about 210 are totally private. We are not aware of any dentists with personal dental service contracts who have sought to reduce the value of their contractual commitment to the NHS.

NHS Dentists

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage change in the number of NHS dentists in north-west London has been in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the percentage change in the number of general dental service or personal dental service dentists, each year, in north-west London from 1997 to 2004, by parliamentary constituency.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Parliamentary constituency name 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Brent East 4.2 -8.0 2.2 -2.1 19.6 -12.7 16.7 
			 Brent North 6.0 -11.3 -3.2 3.3 9.5 -2.9 4.5 
			 Brent South 15.4 1.7 6.6 -3.1 0.0 -15.9 1.9 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 7.4 -4.0 -8.2 3.4 -19.6 9.5 1.2 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 4.1 -4.0 -0.5 -6.3 -12.2 -1.3 4.5 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush 11.0 4.5 -19.0 2.1 -13.5 13.3 5.3 
			 Ealing North 5.7 -5.4 -9.4 8.3 -7.7 12.5 -1.9 
			 Ealing, Southall 5.0 -2.4 -13.7 1.9 -17.4 10.0 -5.1 
			 Feltham and Heston 6.9 1.6 -1.6 6.5 -6.1 4.8 -3.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 13.5 4.0 -13.3 26.4 -13.0 5.0 -2.9 
			 Harrow East 5.5 -6.9 11.1 8.3 3.1 -10.4 8.3 
			 Harrow West 7.5 7.0 -6.6 1.8 3.4 5.0 6.3 
			 Hayes and Harlington 12.9 2.9 0.0 5.6 0.0 -15.8 18.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea -3.2 3.3 0.0 4.8 -4.5 -11.1 21.4 
			 Regent's Park and North Kensington 8.6 3.2 4.6 -11.8 1.7 6.6 10.8 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 13.7 -1.7 0.0 -10.5 11.8 1.8 5.2 
			 Uxbridge -10.0 -3.7 11.5 -3.4 21.4 -11.8 6.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

NHS Dentists

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of dentists in (a) North West London Strategic Health Authority, (b) Brent and (c) Brent, East has stopped taking NHS patients in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows by North West London strategic health authority, Brent local authority, Brent East parliamentary constituency and Brent Teaching Primary Care Trust, the numbers of dentists who stopped doing general or personal dental service work during the year as a percentage of the total number of dentists for the years 1997 to 2004. These figures do not include dentists who moved to other areas and continued to work in the general or personal dental services. The dentists could have ceased doing national health service work for a number of different reasons, for example retirement or to take a short-term absence, as well as because the dentists only wished to treat private patients.
	
		Percentages per year
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Strategic Health Authority 
			 North West London 4.5 5.3 6.8 8.0 6.8 10.1 5.8 5.2 
			  
			 Local Authority 
			 Brent 4.3 4.6 6.1 3.6 6.0 3.9 6.1 2.3 
			  
			 Parliamentary Constituency 
			 Brent East 6.3 4.0 4.3 8.5 6.5 3.6 4.2 0.0 
			  
			 Primary Care Trust 
			 Brent Teaching 4.3 5.2 6.1 3.6 6.0 3.9 6.1 2.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

NHS Dentists

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time to become a patient of an NHS dentist in north-west London has been in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect this information centrally.

Departmental Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts in his Department have been granted to (a) EDS, (b) Fujitsu and (c) jointly in each of the last two years; whether they were open to competition; for what they were granted; for how much; over what period of time; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Department does not hold centrally a record of individual contracts for all policy areas nor does it have similar details for its agencies. However, information is available in the major information technology procurement areas for the Department and shows only one contract has been let to Fujitsu over the last two years. It was an open competition under Official Journal of the European Community/Official Journal of the European Union rules for the provision of IT systems for the primary and acute care sectors as part of the national programme for IT southern regional cluster. The contract, which will run over nine years, commenced on 30 June 2004 and has a value of £896 million. EDS was an unsuccessful bidder for this contract.

Departmental Expenditure

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much and what percentage of his Department's expenditure went on research and development in each year between 2001–02 and 2003–04.

Melanie Johnson: The total departmental expenditure on research and development, and what percentage of the Department's total net expenditure this represents is shown in the table.
	
		
			Total research and development spend (£ million) Research and development as a proportion of net Departmental spend (percentage) 
		
		
			 2001–02 538 0.80 
			 2002–03 574 0.86 
			 2003–04 not available not available 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures Include expenditure on research and development by agencies sponsored by the Department.

Departmental Expenditure

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what expenditure was made by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is responsible on research projects by private sector companies in each financial year since 2001–02;
	(2)  what expenditure (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is responsible have made on research and development by private sector companies in each financial year since 2001–02;
	(3)  how much and what percentage of the expenditure of each agency sponsored by his Department went on research and development in each year between 2001–02 and 2003–04;
	(4)  what expenditure was made by (a) the Department and (b) agencies for which the Department is responsible to research and development projects undertaken by organisations other than university departments, Government-funded research establishments and private sector companies in each year since 2001–02.

Melanie Johnson: The information available is shown in the tables.
	
		Department of Health -- £000
		
			 Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 on research and development by private sector companies (49)312 0 (49)25 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in the UK (49)312 0 (49)25 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in other EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in non-EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on R&D relating to UK University Departments and research centres 91,722 85,621 n/a 
			 on R&D undertaken by organisations other than university departments,  Government-funded research establishments and private sector companies (49)90 (49)425 (49)709 
		
	
	
		Agencies for which the Department of Health is responsible -- £000
		
			 Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 on research and development by private sector companies (49)112 (49)273 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in the UK (49)112 (49)273 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in other EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on research projects by companies with HQ in non-EU member states 0 0 0 
			 on R&D development relating to UK University Departments and research 397 433 511 
			 on R&D undertaken by organisations other than university departments,  Government-funded research establishments and private sector companies (49)15 (49)15 0 
		
	
	n/a=Not available.
	(49)Total value of contracts that began in these financial years,

Departmental Expenditure

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency for which his Department is responsible spent on research and development with overseas Government laboratories or research establishments, including collaborative Government funded laboratories and research establishments, in each year between 2001–02 and 2003–04.

Melanie Johnson: Expenditure by the Department on research and development projects where the contractor undertaking the research was based overseas was as follows:
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 9,547 
			 2003–04 34,704 
		
	
	None of the Department's executive agencies incurred expenditure of this sort in the years in question.

Departmental Policies

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Burnley constituency, the effects on Burnley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The Government has put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Burnley constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for in-patient treatment within Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale primary care trust (PCT) had fallen to 0, from 497 in June 2002.
	At the end of November 2004 the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT had fallen to 326, from 1,267 in June 2002.
	Figures for December 2004 show that all patients within Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a general practitioner within two working days, an improvement from 74.2 per cent., in June 2002.
	Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT's financial allocation increased to £265 million for 2004–05 a real terms increase of 7.1 per cent. By 2007–08 the PCT's financial allocation will increase to £371.2 million.
	In June 2003, at East Lancashire hospitals national health service trust, 90.6 per cent., of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2004 show an improvement to 94.0 per cent.
	Between September 2003 and June 2004 the number of consultants at East Lancashire hospitals NHS trust has increased from 182 to 184. There were 2,143 nurses at the trust in September 2003.
	In the Burnley local authority area death rates from cancer per 100,000 population were 194.5 in 2003, compared with 197.1 in 1997.
	In the Burnley local authority area death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population were 153.0 in 2003, compared with 228.0 in 1997.
	The latest phase of modernisation of Burnley general hospital will include 170 in-patient medical beds, an acute rehabilitation suite and a 15 station renal satellite dialysis unit.
	Sources
	Department of Health. Office for National Statistics

Departmental Policies

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effects of changes to his Department's policies on the Gravesham constituency since 1997;
	(2)  if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effects of the changes to his Department's policies on the Dartford constituency since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Dartford and Gravesham areas.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment within Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley primary care trust (PCT) has fallen to zero from 680 in June 2002.
	At the end of September 2004, the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for outpatient treatment within Dartford, Gravesham, and Swanley PCT has fallen to 390 from 809 in June 2002.
	In 2003, at the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 84.1 per cent., of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2004 show an improvement to 98.6 per cent.
	Between September 1997 and June 2004, the number of consultants at the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has increased from 52 to 58. The number of nurses increased from 796 in September 1997 to 868 in September 2003.
	Figures for December 2004 show that 100 per cent, of patients within Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days.
	In the Dartford local authority area, death rates from cancer per 100,000 population have fallen from 192.1 in 1997 to 183.3 in 2003. In the Gravesham local authority area death rates from cancer per 100,000 have fallen from 200.6 in 1997 to 185.0 in 2003.
	In the Dartford local authority area, death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population have fallen from 134.5 in 1997 to 89.9 in 2003. In the Gravesham local authority area, death rates from coronary heart disease have fallen from 139.0 in 1997 to 110.4 in 2003.
	Dartford, Gravesham, and Swanley PCT allocation has received an allocation of £214.2 million in 2004–05. In the recently announced PCT allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08, Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT will receive an increase of £23 million in 2006–07 and £26 million in 2007–08. A total increase of 19.3 per cent., over the two years. By 2007–08, Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT will receive an allocation of £299 million.

Departmental Policies

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Hemsworth constituency, the effects of changes to departmental policy since 1997 on Hemsworth constituency.

Melanie Johnson: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Hemsworth constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for in-patient treatment within Eastern Wakefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) had fallen to 131, from 380 in June 2002.
	At the end of September 2004 the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within Eastern Wakefield PCT had fallen to 425, from 1,055 in June 2002.
	Figures for December 2004 show that all patients within Eastern Wakefield PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days, an improvement from 68.7 per cent. in June 2002.
	Eastern Wakefield PCT's financial allocation increased to £189.1 million for 2004–05 a real terms increase of 7.3 per cent.
	Between September 2002 and June 2004 the number of consultants at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has increased from 202 to 211.
	In the Wakefield metropolitan district council area death rates from cancer per 100,000 population have fallen to 201.5 in 2003, from 217.2 in 1997.
	In the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council area death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population have fallen to 125.9 in 2003, from 178.2 in 1997.
	In 2003 both Pinderfields general hospital and Dewsbury and district hospital received new cardiac catheter laboratories.
	Source:
	Department of Health Office for National Statistics

Departmental Policies

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hull, North constituency, the effects on Hull, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Hull, North constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment within West Hull Primary Care Trust (PCT) had fallen to zero, from 424 in June 2002.
	At the end of September 2004, the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within West Hull PCT had fallen to 233, from 1,140 in June 2002.
	Figures for December 2004 show that all patients within West Hull PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days, an improvement from 63.3 per cent. in June 2002.
	West Hull PCT's financial allocation increased to £163.4 million for 2004–05, a real terms increase of 6.4 per cent.
	In September 2002, at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, 63.7 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2004 show an improvement to 95.7 per cent.
	Between September 2000 and September 2003, the number of consultants at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has increased from 187 to 234. The number of nurses increased from 2,161 to 2,399.
	In the Kingston upon Hull local authority area, death rates from cancer per 100,000 population have risen to 224.6 in 2002, from 222.1 in 1997.
	In the Kingston upon Hull local authority area, death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population have fallen to 154.6 in 2002, from 180.3 in 1997.
	In March 2003, a new women's and children's hospital was opened at the Hull Royal Infirmary, which brings together all maternity, gynaecology and children's out-patients services on the same site.
	A £6 million eye hospital, opened in November 2002, with 12 new beds and three theatres, enables 1,000 additional eye operations per year.
	£60 million private finance initiative oncology centre development at Castle Hill, to open in 2006.
	£29 million new cardiac centre announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, on a visit to Hull Royal Infirmary on 13 January 2004. The new unit will be at Castle Hill Hospital and will employ an additional 150 staff.
	An additional magnetic resonance imaging scanner was delivered to Hull Royal Infirmary in March 2001.
	A replacement linear accelerator was delivered to Princess Royal Hospital in January 2001.
	Sources:
	1. Department of Health. 2. Office for National Statistics.

Departmental Policies

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effects of his Department's policies since 2 May 1997 on the constituents of Ilford North.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom.There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded benefits for the llford North constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment within Redbridge primary care trust (PCT) fell to zero, from 384 in June 2003.
	At the end of September 2004, the number of patients, waiting over 13 weeks for outpatient treatment within Redbridge PCT has fallen to 914, from 1,710 in June 2003.
	Figures for June 2003 show that 82.2 per cent., of patients within Redbridge PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days. In December 2004, the figure was 100 per cent.
	In the Redbridge PCT area, death rates from cancer per 100,000 population have fallen to 172.6 in 2003, from 176 in 1997.
	In the Redbridge PCT area, death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population have fallen to 127.7 in 2003, from 146.7 in 1997.
	Between September 2001 and June 2004, the number of general practitioners at Redbridge PCT has increased from 120 to 129.
	In September 2001, figures show 90 practise nurses within Redbridge PCT. Figures for September 2003 show 89.
	In June 2003, figures show 110 dentists within Redbridge PCT. Figures for September 2004 show an increase to 120.
	Over the period 2003–04 to 2005–06, Redbridge PCT has received an increase in funding of £40.9 million, an increase of 19.7 per cent.

Departmental Policies

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information as directly related as possible to the constituency, the effect on the constituency of North Durham of his Department's policies since June 2001.

Melanie Johnson: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the North Durham constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for in-patient treatment within Durham and Chester-Le-Street primary care trust (PCT) had fallen to 0, from 284 in June 2002.
	At the end of November 2004 the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within Durham and Chester-Le-Street PCT had fallen to 149, from 1,048 in June 2002.
	Figures for December 2004 show that all patients within Durham and Chester-Le-Street PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a general practitioner within two working days, an improvement from 89.6 per cent., in June 2002.
	Durham and Chester-Le-Street PCTs financial allocation increased to £142.5 million for 2004–05, a real terms increase of 6.3 per cent. By 2007–08 the PCTs financial allocation will increase to £197.6 million.
	Between September 2003 and June 2004 the number of consultants at County Durham and Darlington acute hospitals NHS trusts has increased from 182 to 191. There were 1,946 nurses at the trust in September 2003.
	In the Derwentside local authority area death rates from cancer per 100,000 population were 219.5 in 2003, compared with 228.4 in 1997.
	In the Derwentside local authority area death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population were 144.6 in 2003, compared with 219.0 in 1997.
	In February 2002 and December 2004 new computed tomography scanners were delivered to the County Durham and Darlington acute hospitals NHS trust.
	In February 2002 a new magnetic resonance imaging scanner was delivered to the trust.
	Sources
	Department of Health, Office of National Statistics

Departmental Policies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Pendle constituency, the effects on Pendle of his Department's policies and activities since 2 May 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Pendle constituency.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004 the number of people waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment in the Pendle constituency had fallen to 0, from 497 in June 2002.
	At the end of September 2004 the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for outpatient treatment within Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT had fallen to 669 from 1258 in June 2002.
	Figures for December 2004 show that all patients within Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days, an improvement from 74.2 per cent, in June 2002.
	Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCPs financial allocation increased to £265 million for 2004–05 a real terms increase of 7.1 per cent. By 2007–08 the PCT's financial allocation will increase to £371.2 million.
	In June 2002 at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 92.5 per cent., of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2004 show an improvement to 97.1 per cent.
	Between September 2002 and September 2003 the number of consultants at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has increased from 167 to 169. The number of nurses increased from 1915 to 1928.
	In the Pendle local authority area death rates from cancer per 100,000 have fallen from 188.4 in 1997 to 171 in 2003.
	In the Pendle local authority area death rates from coronary heart disease per 100.000 population have fallen from 205.3 in 1997 to 128.8 in 2003.
	A multi-million pound flagship education centre for NHS staff has been unveiled at Royal Preston Hospital. It is the first stage of a major new building development.

Departmental Policies

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Reading, West constituency, the effects on Reading, West of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Government has put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Reading area.
	For example:
	At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for in-patient treatment within Reading primary care trust (PCT) area has fallen to zero from 365 in June 2002.
	At the end of September 2004, the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within Reading PCT area has fallen to 211 from 1,250 in June 2002.
	In 2003, at the Royal Berkshire and Battle hospitals NHS trust 82.4 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2004 show an improvement of 97 per cent.
	Between September 1997 and June 2004, the number of consultants at the Royal Berkshire and Battle hospitals NHS trust has increased from 109 to 158. The number of nurses from 1,332 in September 1997 to 1,498 in September 2003.
	Figures for December 2004 show that 100 per cent. of patients within Reading PCT area able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days.
	In the Reading local authority area, death rates from cancer per 100,000 population have fallen from 179.9 in 1997 to 184.1 in 2003.
	In the Reading local authority area, death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population have fallen from 133.7 in 1997 to 111.9 in 2003.
	Reading PCT has received an allocation of £175.8 million in 2004–05. In recently announced PCT allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08, Reading PCT will receive an increase of over £19 million (9.1 per cent.) in 2006–07, and an increase of over £21 million (9.2 per cent.) in 2007–08. By 2007–08 Reading PCT will receive an allocation of £249.3 million.
	Notes
	1.Rates per 100,000 population standardised to the European Standard Population. 2.The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for 1997, andthe International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2003. The codes used are listed as follows: Cancer (malignant neoplasms)—ICD-9140–208; ICD-10 COO-C97; Coronary Heart Disease—ICD-9 410–414; ICD-10120–125. 3.Usual residents of this area. 4.Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the ministerial design champion for his Department is.

John Hutton: The Ministerial design champion for the Department is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lords) Lord Warner.

Digital Hearing Aids

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a patient to receive a digital hearing aid in England has been in each year since 2000.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not held centrally.

Digital Hearing Aids

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many audiology departments there are in England; what proportion are routinely fitting digital hearing aids; and what he expects the proportion to be in March.

Stephen Ladyman: There are 164 national health service audiology departments in England. 95 per cent. (156) are, as of 9 February 2005, routinely fitting digital hearing aids. By the end of March 2005 all areas will be doing so.

Delayed Discharges

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will encourage hospitals to discharge patients into the community for treatment as soon as clinically possible to reduce exposure to MRSA and other hospital acquired infections;
	(2)  what guidance he has given to primary care trusts on funding the treatment of patients once they are discharged into the community to complete their treatment.

Stephen Ladyman: In England, the Government are committed to reducing the number of delayed discharges from hospital. The launch of the Cash for Change" programme in 2001 signalled the Government's determination to tackle the problem of delayed hospital discharges through a major cash investment of £300 million over two years. By 2006, older people's services will receive an extra £1 billion a year to expand home care services, extra care housing, community equipment, services for carers and intermediate care. The number of delayed discharges has fallen from 7,065 to 2,742 between September 2001 and June 2004.
	Since 5 January 2004, if a patient remains in hospital because social services have not provided the assessments or services the patient or their carer needs to be safely discharged, the local authority is liable to pay the national health service a charge per day of delay. The charge has been set at a level higher than the cost of providing services to support discharge and will act as an incentive to councils to improve their assessment and service provision. It also acts as a stimulus to ensure prompt discharge.
	Hospitals are expected to take all practical measures to safeguard their patients from health care associated infections, as set out in the Chief Medical Officer's strategy Winning Ways", published in December 2003.
	It is for primary care trusts to manage their obligations effectively, within the total resources available to them. The position in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

Doctors (Refugees)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
	(1)  what progress his Department has made in employing refugee doctors;
	(2)  what assistance is given to refugee doctors to enable them to (a) register and (b) practise in this country.

John Hutton: We have invested over £2 million in providing support, advice and training for refugee health professionals over the past four years. A significant amount of this funding has to gone to refugee doctors to help them develop their knowledge of the English language and their clinical skills. This investment has helped many refugee doctors pass the General Medical Council's English language and clinical competence exams, and therefore gain limited registration to practise medicine in the United Kingdom.
	Like everyone else, refugee doctors must then apply in open competition for posts in the national health service. We have invested in curriculum vitae and interview skills coaching and NHS induction courses to help refugee doctors become more competitive at application stage. We have also supported the development of a national career advice and information website for refugee health professionals through North East London strategic health authority.
	In addition to this, the NHS is making its own investment in the refugee workforce locally.

Drug Action Teams

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role his Department is allocating to drug action teams (DATs) in delivering the Government's alcohol strategy; and what funding is being provided to DATs for that role.

Melanie Johnson: At present the Department is not allocating any role to drug action teams (DATs) in delivering the Government's alcohol strategy nor is funding directly provided. However, a large number of Drug Action Teams have voluntarily taken on alcohol within their remit and these are now known as Drug and Alcohol Action Teams.

Drugs

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time is in the Greater London area for a person suffering from drug addiction to receive treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: A person waiting to receive treatment for drug addiction in Greater London has the following waits (projected regional average across all 33 boroughs) for December 2004:
	
		
			  Weeks 
		
		
			 In-patient treatment 2.8 
			 Residential rehabilitation 2.5 
			 Specialist prescribing 2.4 
			 General practitioner prescribing 1.4 
			 Structured day care 1.6 
			 Structured counselling 2.2 
		
	
	Full waiting times data, including breakdown by each drug action team area—in London, are available on the National Treatment Agency for substance misuse website at http://www.nta.nhs.uk.

Drugs

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has undertaken of treatment regimes for drug abuse in other countries.

Melanie Johnson: The Department has not commissioned any formal studies into treatment regimes for substance misuse in other countries.
	However, to help ensure the best current policy and practice, the Department and National Treatment Agency draw on a wide range of expertise on the treatment of drug misuse to develop guidance, guidelines and policy. This allows knowledge of local, national and international approaches to influence developments.

Drugs

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for residential drug rehabilitation in the Easington constituency; and how many patients are awaiting treatment.

Melanie Johnson: The average waiting time information is not available at constituency level.
	The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse reports that the average waiting time for residential drug rehabilitation placements commissioned by County Durham Social Services Department, which covers the Easington constituency is 2.5 weeks, calculated from the date of assessment at an identified rehabilitation provider to the date of admission. This figure only includes individuals who were actually admitted to residential rehabilitation.
	The number of patients awaiting treatment in Easington is low, and therefore not disclosable due to issues of patient confidentiality.

Drugs

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received treatment for drug abuse in Easington constituency over the last three years.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected by constituency.
	In 2003–04, 967 people were in contact with structured drug treatment services within the Durham Drug Action Team. Comparable figures were not published for the previous two years.
	Source:
	National Treatment Agency

Drugs

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for a residential drug rehabilitation place in Somerset.

Melanie Johnson: The average waiting time for a residential drug rehabilitation place in Somerset was four weeks in December 2004.
	Source:
	National Treatment Agency

E111 Forms

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of British citizens possessing E111 forms issued (a) before and (b) after August 2004; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: About three and a half million old-style E111s were issued in each of the last three years. New-style E111s began to be issued, on a per person rather than per family basis, from August 2004. About three million have now been issued.

E111 Forms

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to publicise the expiry of old E111 reciprocal health certificates and the introduction of new ones; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Old-style forms E111 ceased to be valid on 31 December 2004. The United Kingdom started issuing new style E111s from mid-August 2004. A marketing campaign was begun in October 2004 with a press release and paid advertising in the national press. 10 million information flyers, and associated posters, giving information about the need to obtain new E111s were made available at a number of high street outlets and through the travel trade. The Post Office has run a separate poster campaign in their offices. About 3 million new style E111s have been issued to date. A further marketing campaign about E111 and its eventual replacement by the European Health Insurance card is planned to run between now and September when issue of the card in the UK is planned to start.

Eating Disorders

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many strategic health authorities provide outreach workers to support people with eating disorders in the community;
	(2)  how many primary care trusts commission outreach workers to support people with eating disorders living in the community.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally. There are at least five assertive outreach teams operating within each strategic health authority. All such teams can have people with eating disorders on their caseloads. However, the activity information captured centrally for assertive outreach teams is not broken down by diagnostic criteria.

Engagements

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ministerial visits are planned for each minister in his Department in the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: For reasons of security, it would not be appropriate to disclose the information requested.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Experts' Committee established under Article 10 of European Union Directive 2001/37/EC has to date met three times on 23 September, 2002 (Italian presidency), 10 February 2003 (Irish presidency) and 15 November 2004 (Dutch presidency), each time at the headquarters of the European Commission in Luxembourg. The United Kingdom was represented at two of those meetings by a departmental official. However, no official attendance list was kept. A summary record of each of the meetings can be found on the European Commission website at www.europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm. In addition, an ad hoc expert working group on the directive met in September 2003 and 18 February 2004. The UK expert's role was to provide an update on regulation of tobacco nationally and to provide an update on the implementation of the Directive in the UK. The UK Government's priorities for the work of the expert committee are to ensure that the Directive provisions are implemented effectively across the EU and that the Directive is strengthened in line with responses to the 2004 consultation.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on the training of dental practitioners met, when and where these meetings took place, what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Advisory Committee on Dental Training did not meet during these presidencies, and is unlikely to do so again.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on the training of chemists met, when and where these meetings took place, what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Advisory Committee on Pharmaceutical Training did not meet during these presidencies, and is unlikely to do so again.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee of senior officials on public health met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The European Union Committee of Senior Officials on Public Health (CSOPH) met in Brussels on 30 June 2003, 3 December 2003 and 9 June 2004. The next meeting of the CSOPH is scheduled for the 17 February 2005 in Brussels. Two senior departmental officials attend these meetings.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU-Cm 6174 laid in April 2004, Cm 6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies. Copies are available in the Library and on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

NHS Appointments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of patients failed to attend NHS appointments in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The number of patients not attending an out-patient appointment which includes first and subsequent appointments in England from 1997–98 to 2003–04 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of patients who did not attend out-patient appointment Percentage of patients who did not attend out-patient appointment 
		
		
			 1997–98 5,629,429 11.9 
			 1998–99 5,648,971 11.8 
			 1999–2000 5,882,510 12.0 
			 2000–01 5,954,819 12.0 
			 2001–02 5,947,730 11.9 
			 2002–03 5,885,369 11.7 
			 2003–04 5,876,438 11.5 
		
	
	Source:
	KH09 and QMOP Department of Health Returns
	Information on the number of patients not attending an out-patient appointment, which includes first and subsequent appointments by region from 1997–98 to 2001–02 and by strategic health authority from 2002–03 to 2003–04 has been placed in the Library.

Female Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of female prisoners who are users of prescription medication (a) on entering prison and (b) on release.

Stephen Ladyman: No such estimate has been made.

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) a selection of the information disclosed in response to Freedom of Information requests since January.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's policy is to assess each request for information in terms of both the public interest in disclosure and whether the information is of sufficient interest to justify publication on the Departments website. Information that passes both tests is placed on the website at the same time as it is released to the applicant. We do not place information released under Freedom of Information in the Library unless the applicant specifically asks us to do so.
	Guidance on publication schemes, issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in July 2002, recommended that where information is disclosed to an individual in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, Departments and non-departmental public bodies should consider whether the information disclosed is of general interest and include released information in the publication scheme where appropriate.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 192W, on general practitioner referral, what his Department's policy is on encouraging direct referral of patients by general practitioners to (a) therapists, (b) hospital diagnostics and (c) other general practitioners with a specialist interest.

John Hutton: The Department encourages direct referrals to any healthcare service where clinically appropriate and in line with primary care trust commissioning arrangements.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to increase the flexibility of continued professional development for general practitioners, with particular reference to opportunities offered to those working in rural or remote medical practices.

John Hutton: Responsibility for work force planning and development lies with strategic health authorities, in consultation with primary care trusts (PCTs). Provision of, and participation in, continuing professional development for general practitioners is the responsibility of the postgraduate deaneries and individual GPs respectively.
	We accept that continuing professional development should be flexible and responsive to the needs of individual practitioners, their patients and the organisations they work in. It is for this reason that the new GP contract specifically includes an element for protected time to allow GPs and their practice staff opportunities for development, but which also allows GPs, with support from their PCTs, to decide what their local development needs are and how best to meet them.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there were per 100,000 population in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each primary care trust for each year since 1997.

John Hutton: Information on the number of general practitioners, excluding retainers, registrars and locums, per 100,000 weighted population in England broken down by strategic health authority and by primary care trust in each year since March 2002 has been placed in the Library.
	Information prior to 2002 is not available in a comparable format.

General Practitioners

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by name and address each of the general practitioner surgeries in (a) Mendip primary care trust (PCT), (b) South Somerset PCT, (c) Somerset Coast PCT and (d) Taunton Deane PCT; and what is the number of full-time equivalent (i) doctors and (ii)nursing staff in each.

Rosie Winterton: The names and address of general practitioner surgeries in each of the areas above and number of full-time equivalent doctors and nursing staff are not held centrally. However, the list of names and addresses for general medical practitioners for each of the primary care trusts in Somerset can be found at the following website: http://195.105.0.110/pcis/gpreports.asp

General Practitioners

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners were practising in the London borough of Redbridge at 31 December (a) 1997 and (b) 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not hold the number of general practitioners in the London borough of Redbridge from 1997. However, the table shows the number of GPs in North East London from 1997 and the number of GPs in Redbridge Primary Care Trust from 2001.
	
		All practitioners (excluding retainers registrars and locums)(50) as at 1997 2001 and June 2004 for specified organisations -- Number (headcount)
		
			   1997 2001 June 2004 
		
		
			 Q06 North East London 849 855 927 
			 SNA Redbridge PCT — 111 118 
		
	
	(50)All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) include general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1997, 30 September 2001 and 30 June 2004.
	Source:
	Department of Health GMS and PMS statistics.

Health Professionals

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to ensure that numbers of health professionals in London's schools are sufficient; and if he will make a statement:
	(2)  how much the NHS has spent on school nurses in each constituency in London in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many children per school nurse there have been in each London constituency in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how many schools in each constituency in London have had a full-time school nurse in each year since 1997;
	(5)  which health professionals are employed in London's schools.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the number of school nurses employed in the national health service was collected in the September 2004 non-medical workforce census. This data will be published shortly. In line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power", it is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs), in conjunction with strategic health authorities, to ensure that services meet the needs of their local communities.
	The Department recognises the important role that school nurses have to play in addressing health priorities, and this has been reinforced in the children's national service framework and the Chief Nursing Officer's review of the nursing, midwifery and health visiting contribution to vulnerable children and young people. We are providing new funding so that by 2010 every PCT, working with children's trusts and local authorities will be resourced to have at least one full-time, year-round qualified school nurse working with a group of primary schools and its related secondary school.

Health Professionals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat tests are conducted on health professionals trained in England for (a) HIV, (b) tuberculosis and (c) hepatitis B.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is contained in the recent publication from NHS Employers: The management of health, safety and welfare issues for NHS staff" which is available at http://www.nhsemployers.org/docs/blue_book_complete.pdf

Health Services (North Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of capital of expenditure on health care was in North Durham in (a) 2001 and (b) the last year for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the following table and is based on the net book value of purchased capital additions for the national health service trusts and primary care trusts in the North Durham area.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2001–02 18,145 
			 2003–04 11,454 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The figures in the table do not include Private Finance Initiative (PFI) expenditure where PFI costs are revenue expenditure in the books of NHS bodies.
	2.Capital investment will vary between years owing to the investment decisions at individual NHS bodies.
	Sources:
	1.Audited summarisation schedules of relevant NHS trusts 2001–02 and 2003–04
	2.Audited summarisation schedules of relevant primary care trusts 2003–04

Health Services (North Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change has been in waiting lists in North Durham since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		In-patient waiting list and timebands figures for the following trusts
		
			   Patients waiting for admission by months waiting 
			 Month Trust name Total 6 to 8 months 9 plus months 12 plus months 
		
		
			 Quarter ending March of each year 
			 March 1997 Community healthcare: North Durham NHS trust 0 0 0 0 
			 March 1997 North Durham acute hospitals NHS trust 5,474 933 465 0 
			 March 1997 South Durham NHS trust 0 0 0 0 
			 March 1997 Bishop Auckland hospitals unit NHS trust 1,302 163 24 0 
			 March 1997 Darlington memorial hospital NHS trust 2,660 317 122 0 
			  Total 9,436 1,413 — — 
			   
			 September 2004 County Durham and Darlington acute hospitals NHS trust 5,586 511 0 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health KH07
	
		Out-patients waiting over 13 weeks and timebands figures for the following trusts
		
			   Weeks not yet seen by consultant after GP referral 
			 Month Unit name Not seen 13 to 25 Not seen 26 plus 13 weeks plus 
		
		
			 Quarter ending March of each year 
			 March 1997 Bishop Auckland hospitals unit NHS trust 0 0 0 
			 March 1997 Darlington memorial hospital NHS trust 0 0 0 
			 March 1997 Community healthcare: North Durham NHS trust 113 2 115 
			 March 1997 North Durham acute hospitals NHS trust 1,203 688 1,891 
			 March 1997 South Durham NHS trust 27 0 27 
			  Total 1,343 690 2,033 
		
	
	
		
			   Weeks not yet seen by consultant after GP referral 
			 Month Name Not seen 13 to <17 Not seen 17 to <21 Not seen 21 plus 
		
		
			 September 2004 County Durham and Darlington acute hospitals NHS trust 766 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Changes in timebands.
	Source:
	Department of Health QM08

Health Services (Somerset)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) how many consultant episodes have been completed in Somerset in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the (a) maximum and (b) average waiting times for in-patient treatment in Somerset have been in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The number of consultant episodes completed in Somerset and the maximum and average waiting times for in-patient treatment in Somerset in each year from 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		Strategic health authority (SHA) of residence: Q22 Somerset and Dorset in 2002–03 and 2003–04Health authority of residence: QD5 Somerset between 1996–97 to 2001–02Method of admission: elective (waiting list and booked cases)Count of finished in-year admission episodes and mean time waited in daysCount of finished consultant episodesNational health service hospitals, England 1996–97 to 2003–04
		
			   Health authority of residence or strategic health authority of residence Median waiting time in days Mean waiting time in days Finished in-year admission episodes Finished consultant episodes 
		
		
			 1996–97 QD5 Somerset 43 72 37,147 109,314 
			 1997–98 QD5 Somerset 47 89 36,475 106,767 
			 1998–99 QD5 Somerset 53 101 43,555 119,281 
			 1999–2000 QD5 Somerset 52 101 42,277 121,557 
			 2000–01 QD5 Somerset 56 105 39,584 122,429 
			 2001–02 QD5 Somerset 57 109 36,831 124,649 
			 2002–03 Q22 Somerset and Dorset 46 84 104,165 349,061 
			 2003–04 Q22 Somerset and Dorset 48 79 98,116 354,449 
		
	
	Finished in-year admissions
	A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	Finished consultant episode (FCE)
	An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	Ungrossed data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Time waited
	Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Health Services (Stockton, South)

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the number of (a) nurses and (b) doctors employed in Stockton, South has changed since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested for those national health service organisations serving the Stockton, South constituency is shown in the tables.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1 and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2 for specified organisations
		
			   As at 30 September 
			   1997 2003 
			   All Doctors Doctors 
		
		
			 Q10 County Durham & Tees Valley 2,015 2,329 
			 Of which:
			 RRY Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust 126 n/a 
			 RCH North Tees Health NHS Trust 166 n/a 
			 5E1 North Tees PCT n/a 141 
			 RVW North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust n/a 318 
			   292 459 
		
	
	n/a=Not applicable.
	(51)Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September every year.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
	Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.
	
		Qualified Nursing, Midwifery & health visiting staff and Practice Nurses for organisations serving the Stockton South constituency
		
			   As at 30 September 
			   Nurses 
			   1997 2004 
		
		
			 Q10 County Durham & Tees Valley 7,732 9,084 
			 Of which:
			 RRY Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust 710 n/a 
			 RCH North Tees Health NHS Trust 951 n/a 
			 5E1 North Tees PCT n/a 307 
			 RVW North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust n/a 1,237 
			   1,661 1,544 
		
	
	n/a=Not applicable.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September every year.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.

Health Services (Stockton, South)

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior citizens in Stockton, South have received (a) free eye tests and (b) assistance for glasses and contact lenses since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of sight tests and vouchers by constituency and for senior citizens are not collected centrally. The nearest available is for patients aged 60 and over for sight tests, at former health authority (HA) or current primary care trust (PCT) levels.
	The table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid by Tees HA for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2003 and the four PCTs covering the Stockton South constituency for the year ending 31 March 2004.
	
		General ophthalmic services: number of sight tests paid by HAs and primary care PCTs covering the Stockton South constituency for patients aged 60 and over for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2004
		
			   HA name/ PCT name Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over (thousand) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 Tees HA 40.9 
			 2000–01 Tees HA 39.8 
			 2001–02 Tees HA 42.5 
			 2002–03 Tees HA 42.9 
			
			 2003–04 North Tees PCT 13.2 
			  Hartlepool PCT 10.7 
			  Middlesbrough PCT 15.3 
			  Langbaurgh PCT 10.1 
			
			 2003–04 Total 49.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Eligibility for NHS sight tests was extended to patients aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. PCTs took over responsibilities from HAs in October 2002.
	2.Sight tests can not be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.
	3.Patients aged 60 and over are not eligible for free NHS optical vouchers for help towards glasses or contact lenses on age grounds. However, some patients will be eligible under other category such as adult income support, Pension Credits guarantee credit or holders of HC2/HC3 certificates. It is not possible to break down voucher numbers by age for these categories.

Healthy Eating (Hospitals)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on promoting healthy eating in hospitals.

Melanie Johnson: The 2004 White Paper, Choosing Health" commits the Government to developing nutritional standards for all foods provided by the national health service, increasing access to a range of healthier foods and taking account of the different formats of provision including restaurant, fast food and vending.
	The NHS recipe book, issued in May 2001 as part of the better hospital food programme, also requires hospitals to meet estimated average requirements for food energy, and reference nutrient intake for all other nutrients. These standards were set by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, now known as the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

Hospital Patient Statistics

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of stay for an in-patient at (a) Derriford Hospital, Plymouth and (b) other tertiary hospitals in England was in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hutton: Data on tertiary hospitals cannot be separately identified. Data at trust level have been placed in the Library.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the updated influenza pandemic plan.

Melanie Johnson: The influenza pandemic plan is being drafted and will be published in due course.

Lancashire Teaching Hospital

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the foundation hospital application of Lancashire teaching hospitals.

John Hutton: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust is a wave 1A applicant for national health service foundation trust (NHSFT) status. The trust received the Secretary of State's support last July to make an application to Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) for authorisation as an NHSFT, on retaining three stars in the 2003–04 NHS performance ratings. The trust is currently working towards Monitor's requirements for authorisation and has been placed in a second group in wave 1A for authorisation from 1 April 2005. Monitor will make a positive decision to authorise Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as an NHSFT after having satisfied itself about the Trust's preparedness and financial viability for foundation status.

Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will conduct an assessment of the level of consultation undertaken by the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust with its service users on the use of its day treatment centres;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust's (a) review and re-alignment of services and (b) its impact on service users;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of (a) the crisis resolution service being introduced by the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust and (b) whether there are sufficient funds for its development without detriment to existing services;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the new crisis resolution service adopted by the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust on over-capacity on acute wards.

Melanie Johnson: The consultation period on Leeds Mental Health Teaching National Health Service Trust's proposals for adult mental health service ran from November 2003 to until the end of March 2004 and included a one-day stakeholder event in March 2004.
	Following a Commission for Healthcare Inspection review, it was agreed that Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust would implement a crisis resolution and home treatment service (CRHT) in line with the national service framework for mental health.
	£1.4 million of funding has been made available to implement the crisis resolution service.
	CRHT has significantly reduced the admission rate and provided home treatment for service users. Between November 2003 and January 2004, the trust admitted 513 patients. During the same period in 2004–05, the trust has admitted 428 patients—a 17 per cent. reduction in patient admissions.
	The CRHT team sees 90 per cent. of patients referred to the service within four hours, seven days a week.
	The trust believes that the redesign of adult services will deliver positive benefits to service users and carers and that it will not be detrimental to existing services.

Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust of purchasing acute beds from outside trust boundaries was in the most recent year for which figures are available; and why it has been necessary to purchase them.

Melanie Johnson: Leeds Mental Health Teaching National Health Service Trust does not purchase acute beds from outside its boundaries. Such service provision is directly commissioned by the Leeds primary care trusts.

Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the bed occupancy rate in the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust in acute (a) under-65s and (b) over-65s wards is.

Melanie Johnson: The average bed occupancy at Leeds Mental Health Teaching National Health Service Trust was 79.2 per cent. in 2003–04.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03

Licensing

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral answer of 18 January, Official Report, column 679, on alcohol misuse, what advice his Department gave to the (a) Home Office and (b) Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the policy to extend licensing to allow 24-hour drinking; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 7 February 2005
	The Department supported the policy in the Licensing Bill to give more flexible powers to local authorities on licensing hours, in order to address the increasing problems of binge drinking and drunkenness. This advice was based in part on the positive experience of similar powers in Scotland since 1976.

Long-term Conditions

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to publish the National Service Framework for long-term conditions including multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: We are making good progress and expect to publish the national service framework (NSF) shortly. The NSF sets the direction of travel for the next 10 years to improve health and social care services for people living with long-term neurological conditions. It addresses key areas to improve care and support across the neurological patient pathway from diagnosis, investigation and initial treatment, through rehabilitation and long-term support, to end of life care. It does not look at specific neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rather it identifies the common issues affecting people with long-term neurological conditions and how these may be addressed. The principles in the NSF apply equally to improving quality of life and promoting independent living in anyone living with a long-term condition.

ME Treatment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on funding for ME treatment in Lancashire.

Melanie Johnson: Individual primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning health services to meet the needs of their local population, including Mylagic Encephalomyelitis services, from within their general allocations. The specialist commissioning team has successfully bid to develop a specialist chronic fatigue syndrome service covering Lancashire and South Cumbria. This will be implemented from April 2005.

Medical Staff (Pharmaceutical Company Funding)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospital trusts in England are employing (a) nurses and (b) doctors paid for in part or wholly by pharmaceutical companies.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect this information.

Men's Health Tsar

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will appoint a men's health tsar.

Melanie Johnson: The Government's White Paper Choosing Health" sets out a number of measures for the prevention of ill health in the population. The Department's work in the prevention and treatment of cancer and coronary heart disease will have a significant impact on men's health and the concerted action across Government to tackle root causes of ill-health in housing, education, employment and the environment should also have a positive impact. Therefore, the Department is not considering the appointment of a men's health tsar.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer from the Minister for Pensions of 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 942W, on benefit rates, if he will request that the Department for Work and Pensions make it its policy to collect figures for the number of people in hospital for more than a year living on the weekly benefit rate of £15.90 who suffer from mental ill-health.

Rosie Winterton: We have no plans to request the Department for Work and Pensions to collect this information.

Mental Health

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Easington constituency have consulted an NHS mental health doctor in each of the last three years.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not held centrally.

Midwifery

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of health authorities in England and Wales are experiencing staffing shortages in midwifery.

John Hutton: The national health survey vacancy survey collects information from NHS organisations on the number and rate of vacancies lasting three months or more. The table shows the rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for midwives by strategic health authority area.
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2004NHS three-month vacancies by Government office region, strategic health authority area, qualified midwifery staff
		
			   Qualified midwives 
			   3 month vacancy March 2004 Staff in post September 2003 
			   Rate percentage Number Whole-time equivalent Headcount 
		
		
			 England  3.3 619 18,444 23,941 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 4.8 36 709 991 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 14.3 72 444 587 
			 Q03 Essex SHA 4.1 20 493 640 
			 Q04 North West London SHA 7.4 47 634 842 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 9.1 49 499 638 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 6.4 42 694 871 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 8.7 64 730 988 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 10.2 48 468 642 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 0.0 — 532 651 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley SH 2.7 13 457 554 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 1.9 10 518 647 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire SHA 1.2 11 877 1,056 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 0.0 — 705 882 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester SHA 0.6 8 1,335 1,629 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 1.7 17 1,008 1,298 
			 Q16 Thames Valley SHA 2.1 15 686 933 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 1.1 6 542 727 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway SHA 8.0 43 516 700 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex SHA 5.4 45 739 1,013 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 0.0 — 833 1,131 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula SHA 0.5 3 614 806 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset SHA 0.0 — 355 451 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire SHA 0.5 3 553 679 
			 Q24 Trent SHA 0.4 3 819 1,073 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 0.5 2 512 679 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 2.4 13 516 665 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country SHA 4.0 43 1,078 1,399 
			 Q28 West Midlands South SHA 0.9 5 576 769 
		
	
	Notes:
	Three-month vacancy:
	1.Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2004
	2.Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents)
	3.Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post
	4.Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey, March 2004
	5.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place
	6.Figures where sum of staff in post (as at 31 March 2004) and vacancies is less than 10
	7.Figures where sum of staff in post (as at 31 March 2004) and vacancies is zero
	Staff in post:
	1.Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2003
	General:
	1.Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number
	2.Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates
	3.Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	4.Strategic HA figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care
	5.London Ambulance Service NHS Trust cannot be assigned to a particular Strategic Health Authority
	Sources:
	Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2004
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2003

Midwifery

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people in England and Wales training to become midwives.

John Hutton: The Government have considerably increased the number of training places available for midwives. In 2003–04, 2,226 students entered training to become a midwife, an increase of 35 per cent., since 1996–97.
	Furthermore, the Government are implementing a range of measures to recruit more midwives. These include improving pay and conditions, encouraging the national health service to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer, investing in childcare and continuing professional development, attracting returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns.

Midwifery

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of midwifery students left theircourse before completion in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: Information for England on the percentage of pre-registration midwifery students who have left their university course is shown in the table. Data is not held before the 1994–95 financial year. No data is available for 2001–02. The attrition data for the 2002–03 academic year administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency is in the process of being analysed.
	
		
			  Percentage failing to complete courses 
		
		
			 1994–95 22.08 
			 1995–96 17.43 
			 1996–97 21.84 
			 1997–98 18.23 
			 1998–99 17.17 
			 1999–2000 14.59 
			 2000–01 6.7 
		
	
	Note:
	This data is based on a snapshot in time of a particular cohort(s) and therefore each year there will still be students who have yet to complete their course.

Mixed-sex Wards

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mixed sex Nightingale wards are still in operation.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested. National health service trusts report annually only on the total number of Nightingale wards which are in use.
	The term Nightingale" ward is used to describe a particular layout, that is an open-plan area, which has not been subdivided into bays or cubicles, and which offers dormitory-style accommodation for 12 or more patients.
	Nightingale wards are not necessarily mixed-sex wards, but their old-fashioned layout offers patients little in the way of privacy. We have set clear standards requiring NHS trusts to provide single-sex accommodation for their patients, irrespective of the layout of the ward those patients occupy.
	The elimination of Nightingale wards for older people is one of our key priorities for the NHS. 98 per cent. of all Nightingale wards for older people have been eliminated or will be replaced on completion of hospital developments schemes currently under way.
	The elimination of Nightingale wards for other patient groups is being addressed through the hospital building programme currently under way. This will eliminate remaining Nightingale wards incrementally as it progresses.

MRSA

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people contracted the MRSA virus within the East Kent hospitals trust area between January and March 2003; how many of these were children; and what the national average is for each.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 27 January 2005
	The Department introduced mandatory reporting of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias (blood stream infections) for national health service acute trusts from 1 April 2001. The mandatory scheme does not include information broken down by age groups. The latest data covers the year April 2003 to March 2004. This shows that the overall rate was 0.18 MRSA bloodstream infections per 1,000 bed days.
	The number of MRSA bacteraemia reports for the East Kent hospitals trust between April 2003 and March 2004 was 70. The MRSA rate for the trust was 0.15 per 1,000 bed days, which is lower than the national average.

Multiple Myeloma

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Dai Havard, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in his absence.
	The most recent available figures are for the year 2001. The number of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma registered in the 10 years 1992 to 2001 are given in the table below.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma(52) in England, 1992–2001
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 1992 2,635 
			 1993 2,688 
			 1994 2,710 
			 1995 2,820 
			 1996 2,682 
			 1997 2,701 
			 1998 3,001 
			 1999 2,889 
			 2000 3,078 
			 2001 2,859 
		
	
	(52)From 1992 to 1994, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 203.0–203.1; from 1995 to 2001, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C90.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	In more detailed analyses of trends in incidence over time for a particular cancer, ONS use age-standardised rates. These control for differences in the size and age structure of the population and allow unbiased comparison of incidence rates over time. Age-standardised incidence rates (directly standardised to the European standard population) for multiple myeloma in England, for each year from 1992–2001, are given in Table 10 of the Annual Reference Volume, Cancer Statistics: Registrations, Series MB1 No. 32, which is available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/MBl_32/MBl_32.pdf

Multiple Myeloma

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the life expectancy is of a patient with multiple myeloma.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Dai Havard, dated 16 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what is the life expectancy of a patient with multiple myeloma. I am replying in his absence.
	Data on life expectancy for patients with specific types of cancer are not available. Survival data are calculated as the proportion of patients still alive at a given period after diagnosis. The latest available one- and five-year survival rates for multiple myeloma in England and Wales are for adult patients (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed during 1996–99 and followed up to 31 December 2001. These figures are given in the attached table.
	
		One- and five-year age-standardised(53) relative survival rates (percentage) for adult patients (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed with multiple myeloma(54) during 1996–99(55), England and Wales
		
			   Percentage 
			  Number of patients(56) One-year survival Five-year survival 
		
		
			 Men 5,300 60 23 
			 Women 4,754 62 23 
		
	
	(53)As cancer survival varies with age at diagnosis, rates have been age standardised (directly age standardised to the 1986–90 cancer patients population) to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time.
	(54)International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C90.
	(55)Complete five-year follow-up was available only for those diagnosed in 1996. For patients diagnosed in later years the most up-to-date estimates of shorter-term survival were used in this analysis of survival rates.
	(56)Eligible patients included in the survival analysis. The criteria for excluding patient records are given in Health Statistics Quarterly 2000; 6: 71–80, for example where the registration was of a second (different) primary cancer: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HSQ6Book.pdf
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.
	Available on the National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=7899

National Patient Safety Agency

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of recent changes in the National Patient Safety Agency budget on patient safety.

Rosie Winterton: The effectiveness of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is kept under regular review as part of the annual ministerial accountability review process.
	As a result of the recent review of all of the Department's arm's length bodies, the NPSA is to take on additional responsibilities from April 2005 and will be funded appropriately to do so in its 2005–06 budget, which is nearing finalisation.

NHS Walk-in Centres

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS walk-in centres there are in England.

John Hutton: There are 62 operational national health service walk-in centres in England with a further 27 under development.

NHS (Vacancy Rates)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the three-month vacancy rate is for (a) consultant psychiatrists, (b) psychiatric nurses and (c) all medical and dental staff in the NHS, for the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The latest three-month vacancy data available is at March 2004.
	The tables show the three-month vacancy rates for medical and dental staff, consultants within the psychiatry group and nurses within mental health.
	
		Three month vacancy rate and number for all medical and dental staff and psychiatry consultants in England, March 2004
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			 All doctors (excluding doctors in training) 4.3 1,666 37,081 44,957 
			 Psychiatry group 9.6 334 3,155 3,503 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).
	2.Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	3.Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	4.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	5.*where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is less then 10.
	6.—where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is 0.
	Source:
	Department of Health Medical and Dental vacancy survey.
	
		Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2004—NHS three month vacancies for each specified nursing area of work three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post 
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			 Community learning disabilities 2.5 81 3,289 3,705 
			 Other Learning disabilities 2.1 94 4,535 5,245 
			 Community psychiatry 1.9 235 12,064 13,73 
			 Other psychiatry 4.7 1,282 27,319 31,555 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each 2004.
	2.Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).
	3.Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4.Three month vacancies are calculated using staff in post from the vacancy survey March 2004.
	5.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	6.'—'zero
	7.Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	Sources:
	Department of Health Vacancies Survey.
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

NHS Business Services Authority

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he expects the financial effects to be of the NHS Business Services Authority taking over the functions of the Dental Practice Board.

Rosie Winterton: As a result of the Arm's Length Body Review and the proposed merger of the Dental Practice Board with the Prescription Pricing Authority, NHS Pensions Authority and Counter Fraud and Security Management Services to create the NHS Business Services Authority, considerable efficiencies in delivering transactional services will be secured. However no detailed estimates have yet been made.

NHS Finance

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure per weighted head of population was in (a) the Guildford and Waverley primary care trust area and (b) the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority area in each year since 1992; and what the expenditure per weighted head of population was in England in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The 2003–04 to 2005–06 revenue allocations were the first time funding was made directly from the Department to primary care trusts. The Department announced the latest round of allocation for 2006–07 and 2007–08 on 9 February 2005.
	From 1996–97 to 2002–03 allocations were made to health authorities.
	Prior to this, allocations were made on a regional basis. These allocations do not contain information down to the Surrey and Sussex area.
	Information covering allocations per weighted head of population for the period from 1996–97 to 2007–08 for national health service organisations within the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority is shown in the table.
	
		Allocations per weighted head of population to HAs and PCTs in Surrey and Sussex SHA area—1996 to 2008 -- £
		
			  Allocation per weighted head of population 
			 Health authorities 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 East Surrey 432 448 483 641 703 751 846 
			 East Sussex Brighton and Hove 404 446 469 642 705 758 829 
			 West Surrey 439 450 489 643 706 749 839 
			 West Sussex 406 427 463 624 684 733 821 
		
	
	
		
			  Allocation per weighted head of population 
			 Primary care trusts 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Adur, Arun and Worthing 924 1,011 1,106 
			 Bexhill and Rother 977 1,064 1,157 
			 Brighton and Hove City 918 1,005 1,098 
			 Crawley 900 986 1,078 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey 1,017 1,109 1,207 
			 East Surrey 977 1,065 1,159 
			 Eastbourne Downs 982 1,069 1,162 
			 Guildford and Waverley 990 1,079 1,174 
			 Hastings and St. Leonards 880 966 1,058 
			 Horsham and Chanctonbury 934 1,017 1,105 
			 Mid-Sussex 960 1,046 1,137 
			 North Surrey 966 1,054 1,147 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald 919 1,003 1,095 
			 Western Sussex 967 1,053 1,145 
			 Woking 989 1,078 1,173 
		
	
	
		Allocations per weighted head of population for England 1996 to 2008
		
			 England £ 
		
		
			 1996–97 426 
			 1997–98 443 
			 1998–99 464 
			 1999–2000 629 
			 2000–01 689 
			 2001–02 738 
			 2002–03 817 
			 2003–04 916 
			 2004–05 1,003 
			 2005–06 1,097 
		
	
	Information on allocations per weighted head of population for England from 1996–97 onwards is available in the Library.

Smoking

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the percentage of people who have used the NHS Stop Smoking Services programme and who are no longer smoking after 12 months;
	(2)  how many people have used the NHS Stop Smoking Services in each of the last five years; and what the average cost to the NHS per person is of NHS recommended smoking cessation services.

Melanie Johnson: The Department funded an evaluation of the national heath service stop smoking services programme, which was led by a team at Glasgow university.
	The results will be published in due course.
	The information is shown in the table.
	
		Information about NHS stop smoking services in England, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			  1999–2000(58) 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Number of people setting a quit date(57) 14,600 132,500 227,300 234,900 361,200 
			 Number of successful four week quitters (self report) 5,700 64,500 119,800 124,100 204,900 
			 Cost of NHS stop smoking services (£ million) (59) 5.0 21.5 24.7 24.5 36.2 
			 Cost per person setting a quit date (£)(59) 344 162 109 104 100 
			 Cost per successful four week quitter (£)(59) 872 334 206 197 177 
			 Total net ingredient costs of prescriptions for NRT7 bupropion  (£ million)(60) (61)0.5 16 29 30 37 
		
	
	(57)Total number of people who have used the NHS stop smoking services is not collected centrally, however information is collected on the number of people setting a 'quit date'; some people may use the service but not go onto set a quit date.
	(58)In 1999–2000, NHS smoking cessation services were set up in the 26 health action zones (HAZ) in England and services were rolled out across the NHS to the rest of England in 2000–01.
	(59)The cost of the NHS stop smoking services and the cost per successful quitter in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 included the cost of giving clients 'free' NRT/NRT (or vouchers); from 2001–02 onwards the cost of the service and the cost per quitter excluded the cost of NRT or Zyban on prescription. Only a few nicotine replacement therapy products were available on prescription until 17 April 2001, when all NRT products became available on NHS prescription. Bupropion (Zyban) became available on NHS prescription from June 2000. Therefore, the costs from 2001–02 onwards are not directly comparable with the costs in previous years.
	(60)Net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing fees or prescription charge income. Note that some prescriptions for NRT/Bupropion are dispensed to people not using the NHS stop smoking services.
	(61)This figure only includes the costs of NRT, as bupropion (Zyban) was not available until June 2000.
	Sources:
	1.Statistics on Smoking Cessation in the Health Action Zones in England, April 1999 to March 2000—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/02/24/22/04022422.pdf.
	2.Statistics on Smoking Cessation in England, April 2000 to March 2001—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/64/58/04076458.pdf.
	3.Statistics on NHS stop smoking services in England, April 2001 to March 2002—http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0225.pdf.
	4.Statistics on NHS stop smoking services in England, April 2002 to March 2003—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/62/33/04076233.pdf.
	5.Statistics on NHS stop smoking services in England, April 2003 to March 2004—http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/09/76/51/04097651.pdf.

Nurses' Uniforms

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what policy guidelines have been issued to NHS trusts since 1997 on the wearing by nurses of hospital uniform while travelling to and from their place of work (a) privately and (b) by public transport;
	(2)  what policy guidelines have been issued to NHS trusts since 1997 on the laundering of nurses' uniforms privately by individuals at home; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what research has been carried out since 1997 to establish the (a) mechanical efficiency and (b) hygienic effectiveness, of the washing of nurses' uniforms at home; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what monitoring is conducted by NHS trusts to ensure nurses' uniforms laundered at home are free from bacterial contamination; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what policy guidelines are in place for NHS trusts on the laundering of (a) bed linen for hospital beds and (b) curtains around hospital beds; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Health Service Guidance (95) 18, published in 1995, provides advice and guidance to NHS organisations on the use of laundry practices. This includes hospital bed linen and curtains around beds. The guidance covers the issue of temperature and disinfection. With regard to nurses' uniforms, dilution in domestic washing machines will effectively disinfect them. Single use aprons and other equipment should be used if contamination is likely and if a uniform is visibly soiled then it should be put through a healthcare laundry intended for such items.
	It is for individual national health service trusts to determine their own policy on the laundering of nurses' uniforms and the wearing of those uniforms outdoors. The prevention and control of infection is part of the overall risk management within the healthcare environment and NHS trusts are required to have risk management protocols in place with regard to effective laundry practices. The monitoring of the cleanliness of nurses' uniforms should be part of these protocols.

Patient Charges Review

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Department's review of patient charges; what the remit of the review is; and when it is expected to report.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service dentistry patient charges working group, chaired by Harry Cayton, was asked to recommend how the system of NHS dentistry charges might be made easier for patients to understand and simpler for dentists to operate, without increasing the overall proportion of the dentistry budget raised. We are currently considering the group's proposals and expect to publish Regulations, for consultation, in the summer of 2005.

Payment by Results Initiative

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to introduce the payment by results initiative; what assessment he has made of the likely consequences of the initiative for the Royal Free Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Payment by results has been in use by national health service organisations, for a small amount of activity, since the beginning of the financial year 2004–05. The planned, gradual implementation path will result in approximately 90 per cent. of hospital activity being covered by payment by results by 2008–09.
	Payment by results will offer the Royal Free Hospital, and all other NHS providers, a fair reward for activity undertaken. The way in which the scheme affects the hospital will depend on its efficiency and future activity.

Payment by Results Initiative

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure that hospitals and other healthcare providers are able to remove themselves from the menus of outlying primary care trusts if their total treatment costs lie above the total tariff revenue they will receive through payment by results.

John Hutton: None. The use of the national tariff will be mandatory for all commissioners of national health service services.

Primary Care Trusts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the optimum number of patients in a primary care trust.

John Hutton: The new NHS White Paper of 1997 suggested that primary care groups (PCGs), the forerunners of primary care trusts (PCTs),
	may typically serve about 100,000 patients."
	However, this was qualified by the acknowledgement that there must be flexibility to reflect local circumstances.
	These local circumstances include the advantages that coterminosity between PCTs and local authorities brings, as this facilitates joint-working by the national health service and social services. Geography is also important, as rural PCTs would need to cover a much larger geographical area to serve the same population as urban PCTs. Finally the configuration of hospitals and other health providers results in natural health communities which are not of equal size across the country.
	The impact of these local circumstances on size is such that the Department has never given a figure for the optimum number of patients in a PCT. However, PCTs have tended to be larger than PCGs, as a result of their greater functions and the desire to achieve economies of scale.

Pharmaceuticals Expenditure

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure per capita was on pharmaceuticals in each OECD country in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The data requested is available in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publication OECD Health Data 2004—a Comprehensive Analysis of 30 Countries''. A copy is available in the Library. Information can also be accessed through the OECD website at: www.oecd.org.

Postage

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on postage by the Department in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The spend on postage for each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Postage 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,681,753 
			 1998–99 1,823,559 
			 1999–2000 1,675,084 
			 2000–01 1,714,222 
			 2001–02 1,836,572 
			 2002–03 1,262,092 
			 2003–04 1,116,166 
			 Total 11,109,449

Prescription Charges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the administration cost of prescription charge pre-payment certificates per certificate.

Rosie Winterton: In 2003–04, patients purchased 1,062,263 prescription pre-payment certificates from the Prescription Pricing Authority. During the period, the cost of administering the sale of these certificates was around £1.5 million. The estimated administrative cost was £1.41 per certificate.

Radiology

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the impact of the setting of targets on (a) total time in accident and emergency and (b) in-patient waiting times on radiology departments; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: No recent representations have been received.

Research Reports

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of opportunities for research or consulting disseminated by the Department resulted in (a) research reports and (b) physical deliverables in each year since 2001–02.

Melanie Johnson: The dissemination policy of the Department's directly funded Policy Research Programme (PRP) is to encourage publication of research findings widely and in different fora so they can inform policy and practice at different levels and in different ways. All research projects commissioned by the PRP have at least one deliverable in the form of a final report and it is only in exceptional circumstances that a final report would not be made publicly available.
	The number of PRP projects completed in the three years from 2001–02, and which resulted in a final report that underwent peer review, was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 128 
			 2002–03 59 
			 2003–04 94 
		
	
	The Department also funds national research and development programmes that provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service. All research projects commissioned by these programmes result in a final report. Publication in peer review journals is explicitly encouraged.
	The largest of the NHS research and development programmes, the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, publishes in excess of forty reports a year in the HTA Monograph series. Full details can be found at www.ncchta.org.
	The new and emerging applications of technology programme has separately generated the following number of new methods, procedures or prototypes.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 1 
			 2002–03 4 
			 2003–04 2 
		
	
	The Department has used the LINK collaborative research scheme as a means of sponsoring the pre-commercial or strategic development and assessment of new technology. The MedLINK programme, which ran from 1996 to 2001, supported projects with the potential to lead to new medical devices for prevention, diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of illness or injury. A total of 48 projects received Government support of £15 million. The number of those projects completed in the years in question and where the output included proof of principle prototypes was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 11 
			 2002–03 9 
			 2003–04 7

Residential Care

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were resident in residential care homes in each year from 1991 to 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: Information is not centrally available on the number of people who were resident in residential homes. The number of places in residential and nursing care homes in England is shown in the table as at 31 March for the years 1991 to 2001.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of care home places as at 31 March, 1991–2001, England -- Rounded numbers
		
			 At 31 March All places Residential places Nursing places(62) 
		
		
			 1991 457,800 324,200 133,500 
			 1992 469,100 321,800 147,200 
			 1993 486,500 318,100 1 68,400 
			 1994 498,000 321,600 176,400 
			 1995 506,800 321,500 185,300 
			 1996 517,500 326,900 190,600 
			 1997 534,400 338,100 196,300 
			 1998 553,500 347,900 205,600 
			 1999 546,200 344,000 202,200 
			 2000 539,200 345,900 193,300 
			 2001 528,000 341,200 186,800 
		
	
	(62)Nursing data includes places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics.
	Source:
	Department of Health forms RAC5, KO36, RA and RH(N).

Roaccutane

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether there is a correlation between the number of prescriptions for Roaccutane and recorded suicides in the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) is a prescription only medicine indicated for the treatment of severe acne (such as nodular or conglobate acne or acne at risk of permanent scarring). Its use is limited to specialists in dermatology (with expertise in the use of systematic retinoids for the treatment of severe acne and a full understanding of the risks of isotretinoin therapy and monitoring requirements).
	The safety of isotretinoin has been closely monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with expert advice from the committee on safety of medicines (CSM), since it was approved in 1983.
	The yellow card scheme receives reports of suspected adverse drug reactions suspected to be associated with medicines. To date 22 cases of suicide that have been reported in association with isotretinoin. The first report was received in 1993. There does not appear to be any correlation between the frequency of these cases and isotretinoin usage data, which is estimated to be 30,000 treatment courses per year for the last ten years.
	Warnings about the risk of depression and suicidal behaviour were added to the product information for prescribers and patients in 1998. Following a review of the isotretinoin product information by an expert working group of the CSM and within Europe these warnings have recently been strengthened, to include more explicit descriptions of the symptoms and behaviours associated with psychiatric disorders. The latest evidence of psychiatric disorders suspected to be associated with isotretinoin will be further reviewed as a commitment of the recent European review, with the United Kingdom taking the leading role.

Safer Drinking

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on encouraging safer drinking in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke- on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher), on 9 February 2005, Official Report, column 1610W.

Salt

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with food manufacturers concerning salt levels in processed food; what recent progress has been made towards further reducing salt content therein; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 February 2005
	I have been leading discussions with industry, together with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), to identify and implement a range of proposals to increase opportunities for people to make healthy choices in what they eat. As outlined in the recent White Paper, Choosing Health", these are aimed at increasing the availability of healthier food including reducing the levels of salt, added sugars and saturated fat in prepared and processed food and drink.
	At a stakeholder event on salt in November 2003, Icalled for industry to submit plans to reduce salt in processed food. To date, discussions have been held with and commitments received to reduce salt from over 60 organisations. Work is continuing with the industry to secure commitments to stepwise reductions, with the aim of reducing average intakes to six grams per person per day by 2010.

Secondment

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the people working within his Department on secondment from the private sector, broken down by (a) the organisation or industry they came from and (b) the policy responsibilities they have been given.

Rosie Winterton: Inquiries within the Department have revealed no people currently working on secondment from the private sector.

Seroxat

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to general practitioners since August 2004 on prescription of Seroxat; and to which parts of the United Kingdom the guidance applies.

Rosie Winterton: In October 2004, an article was published in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency/Committee on Safety of Medicines (MHRA/CSM) drug safety bulletin, 'Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance', which summarised key prescribing advice for Seroxat (paroxetine). This bulletin was sent to all doctors and pharmacists in the United Kingdom. On 6 December 2004, a letter was sent to all health professionals in the UK from the Chairman of the CSM announcing the results of the review of the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) including Seroxat and providing prescribing advice for all SSRIs. A copy is available in the Library.

Shipman Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours the Shipman Inquiry sat in public; how many statements were taken by the inquiry; and how many witnesses were called.

John Hutton: Information about the number of hours the Shipman Inquiry sat in public is not available. However, the Inquiry held 228 days of oral hearings in public, 2,411 witness statements were obtained by the Inquiry, and 400 witnesses gave oral evidence to the Inquiry.

Southend Health Trusts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will adjust the funding allocation to Southend health trusts to take account of differences between numbers of residents reported in the 2001 census and current numbers of residents.

John Hutton: The 2006–07 and 2007–08 revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) were announced on 9 February 2005. These allocations included the revisions to the 2001 Census population data and also projected increases in populations. This means we are using the best available population data, which properly takes account of the challenges faced in areas with growing populations.

Supplements

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people have died from the adverse effects of vitamins and supplements in the last five years;
	(2)  when the Government expects the European Food Standards Agency to publish its findings regarding dosage levels in the context of the Food Supplements Directive;
	(3)  whether the Government supports appropriate labelling as a means of ensuring consumer (a) safety and (b) choice within the framework of the Food Supplements Directive;
	(4)  what assessment his Department has made of whether companies have moved businesses outside the European Union in response to the implementation of the Food Supplements Directive;
	(5)  how many vitamins and supplements have been removed from sale by the Food Standards Agency in the past five years due to safety concerns;
	(6)  how many representations he has received expressing concern about the Food Supplements Directive; which organisations that have made representations to his Department expressed support for the Government's policy towards the Directive; and which organisations that have made representations to his Department have informed the Department that they have changed their policy on the Directive since submitting their original representation;
	(7)  what research the Government have carried out on the effects of the Food Supplements Directive on small specialist manufacturers and retailers;
	(8)  how many dossiers have been submitted for products to be included on the positive list under the Food Supplements Directive;
	(9)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost of putting together a dossier for inclusion in the positive list under the Food Supplements Directive; and what plans the Government have to provide financial assistance to small specialist manufacturers in putting together dossiers;
	(10)  which of the nutrient sources that are not on the positive list under the Food Supplements Directive his Department assesses as dangerous.

Melanie Johnson: There is currently no system in the United Kingdom for recording adverse or fatal reactions to food supplements. A very small number of adverse reactions are reported through the general practitioner yellow card system used for medicines and forwarded to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) by the Medicines and Health Care products Regulatory Agency. The FSA is not aware of any vitamin supplements that have been removed from the shelves due to safety concerns. The provision of dossiers for nutrient sources not included in the positive lists will allow the safety of these to be assessed and for any sources considered dangerous to be identified.
	The European Food Safety Authority is expected to publish its advice on maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals, which can be used in food supplements, in spring 2005.
	This Government are fully committed to the view that, in the interest of consumer choice, the law should allow food supplements that are safe and properly labelled to be freely marketed. The Food Supplements Directive (FSD) meets these requirements.
	A large number of representations were received during the negotiations on the FSD, during the consultation on the regulations and since the adoption of the directive. Consumers associations, such as Which?, support the FSD. Trade associations for the supplements industry supported the FSD at the time of its adoption but have since changed their position.
	An assessment of the economic impact of the Food Supplements Regulations was made in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) published with the Regulations and included an assessment of the impact of the FSD on small businesses.
	It is not appropriate for the UK Government to provide financial assistance for dossier production by small companies, as this would set a precedent to provide financial assistance for all new legislation. To date, dossiers for nine nutrient sources have been received by the FSA with a view to these being added to the positive lists in the FSD. The FSA is unaware of any company that has moved out of the European Union as a result of the FSD.

Treatment Costs

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of (a) a general practitioner consultation and (b) an attendance at an accident and emergency department was in the last period for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The average cost of a general practitioner surgery consultation was £18 in 2003–04. (Source: Unit costs of health and social care 2004 by the Personal Social Services Research Unit).
	The Department collects unit cost and activity data from all national health service providers in England each financial year. This information is available in the document, Payment by Results, Core Tools, 2004", a copy of which is available in the Library.
	The average cost of a patient attending an accident and emergency department, and being either referred on from the department or discharged, in 2003–04 was £66.

Tsunami

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS counselling and family support services have been made available to the relatives of victims and witnesses of the Indian Ocean tsunami who are resident in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: All the families bereaved by the tsunami have been allocated a family liaison officer to provide immediate support and help. For others who have been affected by the disaster, psychological therapy, counselling and support services are available in every strategic health authority.

Vaccination

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each primary care trust have received the (a) flu and (b) pneumonia vaccine this winter; and what percentage of eligible people this represents in each case.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Vioxx

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people in the UK were prescribed the painkiller Vioxx in each year since 1999;
	(2)  how many people in the UK suffered (a) heart attacks and (b) fatal heart attacks while prescribed the painkiller Vioxx in each year since 1999;
	(3)  how many people in the UK have been prescribed painkillers in the category of Cox-2 inhibitors in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The number of reports of heart attack (myocardial infarction) received in association with rofecoxib (Vioxx) through the yellow card scheme is shown in table 1. It is important to note that doctors are asked to report suspected adverse reactions regardless of any doubts about a causal association. Therefore, a report of a particular adverse reaction on the database does not necessarily mean that the drug caused it, and other factors such as the patient's underlying condition may have played a part. As with all spontaneous reporting schemes, under-reporting is an inherent feature and reporting may be stimulated by publicity. 12 of these reports were received following the withdrawal of rofecoxib on 30 September 2004.
	
		Table 1
		
			  Number of reports of myocardial infarction (Ml) Number of reports of Ml with a fatal outcome 
		
		
			 1999 6 1 
			 2000 9 4 
			 2001 7 1 
			 2002 5 0 
			 2003 7 0 
			 2004 16 2 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the number of prescription items of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors that have been dispensed in the community in England from 1999 to 2003.
	
		Table 2 -- Number of prescription items (thousand)
		
			  Rofecoxib (Vioxx) Celecoxib (Celebrex) Valdecoxib (Bextra) Etoricoxib (Arcoxia) 
		
		
			 1999 162.6 — — — 
			 2000 784.5 109.5 — — 
			 2001 1,269.8 109.5 — — 
			 2002 1,780.8 1,374.2 — 86.7 
			 2003 2,128.6 1,957.8 26.5 396.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Prescription cost analysis data from the Prescription Pricing Authority.

Volunteer First Aiders

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether attendance by an unqualified volunteer first-aid 'responder' at the scene of an emergency call to the ambulance service is assessed as fulfilling his Department's target response time.

Rosie Winterton: Guidance is set out in the statistical bulletin 'Ambulance services, England: 2003–04', which states that an emergency response may be by:
	an emergency ambulance: or
	a rapid response vehicle equipped with a defibrillator to provide treatment at the scene; or
	an approved first responder equipped with a defibrillator, despatched by and accountable to the ambulance service.
	Although the initial emergency response may be to send a rapid response vehicle or approved first responder, a fully equipped ambulance vehicle (car or ambulance) able to transport the patient in a clinically safe manner is still required to attend the incident within 14 to 19 minutes of the initial call, not within 14 to 19minutes from arrival of initial responder.
	A copy of the statistical bulletin 'Ambulance services, England: 2003–04' is available in the Library. A copy of the 'Data set change control procedure', which details this information will be placed in the Library.

Yorkshire, Wolds and Coast PCT (Office Accommodation)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of the acquisition and refurbishment of the Four Winds office accommodation at Driffield for the Yorkshire, Wolds and Coast primary care trust.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 10 February 2005
	North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire strategic health authority reports that the rental cost of the Four Winds office accommodation in Driffield to the Yorkshire Wolds and Coast primary care trust is £72,500, plus value added tax, per annum. The accommodation was refurbished at the expense of the landlord. Monday 21 February 2005

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Quality

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the link between trees in urban areas and air quality.

Alun Michael: Trees provide benefits to urban air pollution, but can also have adverse effects on air quality.
	Adverse effects of trees on air quality
	Trees can have adverse effects on air quality. They can release biogenic emissions known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which in combination with oxides of nitrogen (NOx), can contribute to the formation of other pollutants, especially ozone and particles. Ozone and particles are known to damage human health when in the lower atmosphere. In addition, trees release pollen, which can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people, and can be associated with hay fever and asthma.
	Beneficial effects of trees on air quality
	Trees deliver air quality benefits in two ways. Firstly, the cooling effect of their shade can directly reduce evaporative emissions from vehicles and other fuel storage, and by cooling homes and offices, power generation emissions are also lessened. Cooling also reduces the speed at which atmospheric chemical reactions occur.
	Secondly, trees can remove various pollutants from the atmosphere via deposition to their leaves and needles. Trees can remove pollutants typically associated with urban air pollution such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ammonia reducing atmospheric concentrations and improving air quality. The pollutants generally collect in the leaves or bark which are then shed as part of the tree's life cycle. Trees also reduce concentrations of harmful particulate matter when leaf surfaces collect airborne particles, that are subsequently washed to the ground when it rains. The trees most suited to removal of particles are those with large leaf areas, or sticky or hairy leaves. Studies indicate that the hairy leaves of lime trees can collect four times as many PM10 particles than plane trees.
	In addition, trees can have a positive benefit in terms of global warming by acting as a sink for carbon dioxide, which is the most common greenhouse gas. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen during photosynthesis. The carbon is stored in the tree and the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere.
	A recent report entitled Trees and Sustainable Urban Air Quality", produced under the Natural Environment Research Council's Urban Regeneration and the Environment (URGENT) programme by the University of Lancaster and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Edinburgh, investigated the role of trees in reducing urban air pollution. The report concluded that trees that emit the least reactive VOCs and have large leaf surface areas have the best effect on air quality. Scots pine, common alder, larch, Norway maple, field maple, ash and silver birch were found to remove the most pollutants without contributing to the formation of new pollutants, whereas oaks, poplars and willows were found to have detrimental effects on air quality downwind.
	In general, the report concludes that the effects on air quality of large scale planting of most tree species in cities would be positive and for example, by doubling the number of trees in the West Midlands, the concentration of small particles could be reduced by 25 per cent., avoiding 140 deaths that are currently caused by airborne particles each year in the West Midlands.

Catering Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: All expenditure of official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
	The following table shows the expenditure in fiscal years since the Department was formed in 2001, up to 31 December 2004 in the current year. Figures for Defra's predecessor Departments could be provided only by incurring disproportionate cost. Further analysis of hospitality which includes entertainment lunches and working lunches would also incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2001–02 239 
			 2002–03 450 
			 2003–04 428 
			 2004–05 to 31 January 2004 360

Cleaning Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the costs of cleaning the Department and its predecessors were in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001 and comparison with its predecessor is not possible. Since 2001, the figures for costs incurred were:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 3,379,000 
			 2002–03 3,861,000 
			 2003–04 4,187,000 
			 2004–05 4,161,000

Countryside Access

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent to date on implementing the right to roam as required by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Alun Michael: The Government have funded the Countryside Agency, National Park Authorities and the Planning Inspectorate to implement Part I of the Act throughout the whole of England by the end of 2005.
	To date, the Countryside Agency has spent £38.83 million, consisting of £0.75 million in 1999–2000; £0.92 million in 2000–01; £5.17 million in 2001–02; £8.30 million in 2002–03; £13.25 million in 2003–04 and £10.44 million to date in 2004–05. National Park Authorities have been allocated an additional £4.725 million, consisting of £0.875 million in 2002–03; £2.0 million in 2003–04 and £1.85 million in 2004–05. Defra has also funded the Planning Inspectorate to deal with appeals against the inclusion of land on provisional maps and restriction appeals of £0.11 million in 2001–02; £0.84 million in 2002–03 and £1.20 million in 2003–04. The Planning Inspectorate has spent £1.23 million in the current financial year. Local authorities have been funded to establish local access forums under Part V of the Act.

Departmental Policies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants her Department makes available to villages in Chorley constituency.

Alun Michael: Villagers in Chorley constituency can benefit from:
	Funding under the England Rural Development Programme. Within this Programme, the Rural Enterprise Scheme in particular incorporates measures such as support for basic services for the rural community and renovation and development of villages, which might be of particular interest (further information is available at www.defra.gov.uk/erdp.default.htm).
	Various measures (administered with the Countryside Agency) to support parish councils, e.g. parish plans, the Quality Parish Investment Fund, the Clerk's Training Bursary Fund, where various Parish Councils within the Chorley constituency have received funding (e.g. Ulnes Walton for an IT project and Croston, Wrightington, Heapy and Appley Bridge for parish plans).
	Defra's programme with the voluntary and community sector which supports infrastructure bodies, social and community enterprise and a collaboration with the Department of Work and Pensions promoting benefits uptake among the elderly.
	Support under the Rural Stress Action Plan.
	Other grants supporting Defra's objectives from English Nature, the Countryside Agency, the Forestry Commission and the Regional Development Agency (inthis case the North West Regional Development Agency) may also be relevant to villagers in the Chorley constituency.
	As announced in the Rural Strategy 2004, Defra is streamlining and devolving the funding support it provides.

Departmental Policies

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd, South constituency, the effects on Clwyd, South of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997;
	(2)  if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd, South constituency, the effect on the constituency of policies pursued by her Department at the Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Department does not hold statistical information for Welsh constituencies. This is a matter for the devolved Administration.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on the control and reduction of pollution caused by the discharge of hydrocarbons and other dangerous substances at sea met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	The Management Committee on Marine Pollution (MCMP) has replaced the Committee referred to by the hon. Member. The MCMP met once during each of the Italian, Irish and Dutch presidencies (in September 2003, March 2004 and September 2004) in Brussels. The United Kingdom was represented at each of these meetings by the Counter Pollution Response Branch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above Presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Queen's Flight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  on how many occasions her Department's Ministers used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years;
	(2)  how much money her Department has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Alun Michael: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course. Advice on Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service.

Street Cleaning

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines she has issued on the optimum intervals for (a) street sweeping and (b) gulley emptying.

Alun Michael: The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, published in June 1999, sets out the recommended cleansing standards according to different categories of land. The code is currently being reviewed and we will consult on the draft code later this year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

First Aid

Anthony Steen: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will issue first aid equipment including treatment for burns to all areas where constant boiling water cisterns have replaced kettles on the Commons estate.

Archy Kirkwood: The installation of instant boiling water dispensers to replace kettles gives a number of safety benefits that reduce the risk of scalds and burns, including elimination of steam hazard, no overturning of kettles, no cords or flexes, no hot surfaces, reduced risk of spillage, and the controlled dispensing of boiling water.
	The dispensers also offer energy savings, improved hygiene and improved electrical safety.
	First aiders and first aid equipment are readily available in all buildings. The Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Service advice is that the most effective treatment for a scald or burn is immediately to place the affected area under cool running water for aslong as it takes for the pain to subside. All dispensers are located close to a supply of cool running water. Arrangements are being made to provide first aid instructions for scalds and burns.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

Public Sector IT Projects

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what assessment he has made of the resources available to National Audit Office staff to enable them to facilitate greater parliamentary scrutiny of public sector IT projects.

Alan Williams: The National Audit Office already examines IT programmes and projects as part of the annual programme of value for money studies. For example last year its report, Improving IT Procurement", examined the impact of the Office of Government Commerce's initiatives on departments and suppliers in the delivery of major IT-enabled projects. The cost implications of the National Audit Office's work are reflected in the resource bids submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the head of the National Audit Office, for consideration by the Public Accounts Commission. The Commission will be examining the NAO's bid for 2005–06 at its meeting on 22 February.

PRIME MINISTER

BAE Systems

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he has had with (a) board members and (b) staff of BAE Systems since 1 January 2004.

Tony Blair: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. Representatives from BAE Systems attended a business breakfast in Downing street on 10 February 2004.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of his Office's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. All Government Departments work closely together to ensure the coordination of policy and in collaboration with each other to improve delivery of improved public services. Since 1997, the Cabinet Office has played a major role in achieving Government objectives. The Cabinet Office Departmental Report 2004 describes how the work of management units within the Cabinet Office contributes to the achievement of the Department's objectives, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Structures

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to change departmental structures, with particular reference to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Tony Blair: I have no current plans to do so. The allocation of responsibilities across Government is kept under close review and changes to the machinery of government are made as and when necessary.

G8 Presidency

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Prime Minister what his priorities are for the Presidency of the G8.

Tony Blair: The two main priorities for the UK Presidency of the G8 are Africa and climate change.
	We shall also take forward the Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative from the US Presidency in 2004, and continue G8 work on counter-terrorism and non-proliferation.

Government Whips

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Prime Minister whether all Members of the Government Whips Office receive ministerial salaries.

Tony Blair: A full list of paid and unpaid Government Ministers including Government Whips is available from the Library of the House.

IBM

James Gray: To ask the Prime Minister what the purpose was of his meeting at No. 10 on 2 December 1999 with Mr. Louis Gerstner Junior of the IBM Corporation of New York; which Department of Government suggested that he receive Mr. Gerstner; on what date it was first sought to arrange such a meeting; and which (a) departments of Government and (b) advisers were present at the meeting.

Tony Blair: The meeting of 2 December 1999 with Mr. Louis Gerstner Junior of the IBM Corporation is a matter of public record. My officials and I have meetings and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals. All meetings are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Iran

Edward Davey: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with President Bush regarding military options should Iran continue to develop its nuclear weapons programme; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I regularly have discussions on a wide range of issues with President Bush, including on Iran. President Bush is fully aware of our policy on Iran, and made clear in his State of the Union Address on 2 February that the United States would continue to work for a diplomatic solution.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the leading figures referred to by his official press spokesperson on 8 December 2004, other than those representing Her Majesty's Government or the Interim Iraqi Government, who dispute the estimate of civilian deaths in Iraq published in the Lancet.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Straw) on 17 November 2004, Official Report, columns 92–5WS.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister whether the advice from the Attorney General on the legality of the war in Iraq published in the Official Report on 17 March 2003 was a summary of the advice received.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) on 22 May 2003, Official Report, columns 914–15W.

Kyoto Protocol

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the long-term prospect of the US signing up to the Kyoto Protocol.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) during my evidence to the Liaison Committee on 8 February.

Kyoto Protocol

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether the UK will meet its Kyoto targets by 2010.

Tony Blair: Current projections suggest that UK greenhouse gas emissions will be around 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010, which is well below our Kyoto target of 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels.
	I also refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) and to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) during my evidence to the Liaison Committee on 8 February.

Miscarriages of Justice

Christopher Chope: To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he applies when deciding whether to issue public apologies to the victims of miscarriages of justice.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the comments made by my Official Spokesman on Wednesday 2 February, a transcript of which is available on the No. 10 website.

Prince of Wales

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he was consulted on the date for the proposed marriage between HRH The Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker-Bowles; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I was not consulted on the date.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Spending

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his latest estimate is of unallocated departmental spending in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07, and (c) 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office is currently finalising its internal budget allocation for 2005–06 and the Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) will not be determined until that process is complete. Similarly the DUP for 2006–07 and 2007–08 will not be determined until the internal budget allocation process is complete for the respective years.

Ministerial Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on official ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: It is not possible to provide the information requested as it is not held centrally and cannot be readily retrieved without incurring disproportionate cost.

Regulatory Impact Unit

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost of staffing and running the Regulatory Impact Unit was on the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor (Ruth Kelly) gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1004W.

WALES

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) a selection of the information disclosed in response to Freedom of Information requests since January.

Don Touhig: In line with guidance issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in July 2002, the Wales Office has considered publication of information disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
	Any information released by the Wales Office in response to Freedom of Information requests will also be published on the Wales Office website.

Job Relocation

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales on the relocation of jobs from England to Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I are working closely with ministerial colleagues in the Assembly to ensure that Wales benefits from any relocation of public sector jobs from London and the South East. To this end, I welcome the decision last September by the Office for National Statistics to make Newport its principal headquarters and move 600 jobs there.
	I am actively pursuing plans by other Departments and will be following up as appropriate. On 10 February, the First Minister and I met several senior officials from London based Departments involved with the relocation exercise to highlight what Wales has to offer.

MRSA

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government concerning the release of MRSA figures for hospitals in Wales.

Don Touhig: I regularly meet the Assembly First Minister and Health Minister to discuss issues surrounding health care associated infections, in particular MRSA, which we take very seriously.
	The Assembly Health Minister, Dr. Brian Gibbons has announced a new set of proposals which will enablepatients to access trust based statistics on each individual hospital in Wales.

TRANSPORT

A3

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which existing road schemes in addition to the A3 at Hindhead have been downgraded from national to regional significance; and what the peak traffic volumes of each were in the last period for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The Government's consultation paper—Devolving decision making: A consultation on regional funding allocations"—issued on 2 December 2004 sets out which routes are categorised as of the greatest strategic national and international importance and which are categorised as of primarily regional importance. The following table sets out the latest available peak daily traffic flow for each scheme in the targeted programme of improvements on routes categorised as of primarily regional importance.
	
		Trunk road schemes in the targeted programme of improvements on regional routes—Peak daily traffic flow—2004
		
			Government office region Two-way peak daily traffic flow (2004)Traffic count location 
		
		
			 Schemes planned to start construction by April 2008 
			 Al Peterborough–Blyth East Midlands 65,800 A1 Burghley Park, NB and SB 
			 A421 Bedford to Ml Junction 13 East 33,900 A421,StewartbyEB andWB 
			 All Attleborough Bypass improvement East 46,100 A1 1 Wymondham, NB and SB 
			 A19/A184 Testos Roundabout North East 61,400 A19, A1290-A184, South of Testos Roundabout; NB and SB 
			 A590 High and Low Newton Bypass North West 22,800 A592-A5074 Low Newton EB and WB 
			 A66 Temple Sowerby North West 24,200 A6-A685 Whinfell Forest, East of Penrith EB and WB 
			 A57/A628 Mottram-Hollingworth-Tintwistle North West 42,600 A6018-A628 Mottram Moor Tameside EB and WB 
			 A595 Parton-Lillyhall Improvement North West 22,100 B5295-A597, Commonend, Distington, Workington NB and SB 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2 South East 134,000 A2 between A227 and B262 EB and WB 
			 A2/A282 Dartford Improvement South East 183,300 A282 Dartford Crossing NB and SB 
			 A27 Southerham-Beddingham Improvement South East 44,300 A27 Beddingham Level Crossing EB and WB 
			 A30/A382 Merrymeet Junction South West 61,100 A30 Tedbum St. Mary EB and WB 
			 A30 Bodmin Indian Queens South West 45,700 A30 Bodmin Bypass EB and WB 
			 M5 J17 to J18A Northbound Climbing Lane (HallenHiU) South West *66,000 M5 J18A to 17 NB * one-way flow traffic i.e northbound 
			 M5 J19 to J20 Northbound Climbing Lane (Tickenham Hill) South West *66,800 M5 J20 to J19 NB * one-way flow traffic i.e. northbound 
			 M5 J19 to J20 Southbound Climbing Lane (Naish Hill) South West *69,600 M5 J19 to J20 SB * one-way flow traffic i.e. southbound 
			 A38 Dobwalls Bypass South West 30,800 A38 Dobwalls (A390-B3284) EB and WB 
			 A419 Blunsdon South West 26,900 Blunsdon St (B401 9-A431 1) NB and SB 
			 A419 Commonhead Junction South West  Refer to A419 Blunsdon above. 
			 A45/A46 Tollbar End West Midlands 68,500 A45, Bagington, East of A46 EB and WB 
			 A66 Scotch Corner to Carkin Moor Dualling Yorkshire and The Humber 26,000 A1-A167 West of A1 EB and WB 
			 A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Dualling Yorkshire and The Humber 28,300 A67-A685 West of Bowes EB and WB 
			 
			 Schemes to be progressed for future construction
			 A46 Newark-Widmerpool Improvement East Midlands 35,500 A46 Newark Relief Road, east of sewage works EB and WB 
			 A453 widening (Ml J24 to A52 Nottingham) East Midlands 27,800 A453, Barton Lodge, NB and WB 
			 A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (aka Ml-A5 Link Road) East N/A New link road 
			 A66 Long Newton GS J North East 36,500 A1 150-A135, west of Long Newton EB and WB 
			 A19/A1067 Seaton Burn North East 32,800 A1068-A1171 Arcott Hall EB and WB 
			 Al Morpeth to Felton Dualling North East 36,400 A197-A192, Morpeth NB and SB 
			 Al Adderstone to Belford Dualling North East 13,800 A1068-A1167, Belford Bypass NB and SB 
			 A3 Hindhead Improvement South East 37,000 A3, north of Hindhead NB and SB 
			 
			 Schemes to be progressed subject to regional priorities
			 A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement East 33,400 A428 North of Hardwick, EB and WB 
			 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham East 34,600 A47 Acle, EB and WB 
			 All Fiveways to Thetford Improvement East 32,900 A11 Thetford Bypass North NB and SB 
			 A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass North East 20,900 B6319-A6079, Hexham EB and WB 
			 A23 Handcross to Warninglid Widening South East 86,500 A23 Slaugham (B2110-B2115) NB and SB 
			 A21 Tonbridge Bypass to Pembury Dualling South East 36,500 A21 , Kippings Cross to Pembury, NB and SB 
			 A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst Bypass South East 30,000 A21 , Lamberhurst Quarter to Pembury, NB and SB 
			 A30 Garland Cross to Chiverton Cross South West 40,800 A30 Garland Cross (A3076-A3058) EB and WB 
			 A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement South West 41,100 A30 north of Bodmin EB and WB 
			 A3 03 Stonehenge South West 47,500 A303 east of Countess Roundabout EB and WB 
			 A483 Pant-Llanymynech Bypass West Midlands 16,300 A483 Oswestry Bypass (B5069-A5) NB and SB 
			 A64 Rillington Bypass Yorkshire and The Humber 21,400 B1248-B1258, Rillington Village EB and WB

Bridgwater Station

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Wessex Trains with regard to parking facilities at Bridgwater station.

Tony McNulty: None. The provision of car parking facilities at stations is a matter for individual train operating companies.

British Transport Police (Westminster Station)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the strategy of the British Transport Police is for responding to calls for assistance from Westminster tube station; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Westminster London Underground station is one of the more heavily policed stations in London due to its significant location. Both BTP and the Metropolitan police regularly police the station. This includes community support officers on daily security patrols in Whitehall.
	The BTP at Stockwell have a dedicated priority policing team. These officers are responsible for policing Westminster tube station. In addition there is a 24-hour response team operating from Tottenham Court Road BTP station with patrol cars that both attend calls for assistance and also carry out patrols at stations.
	Since 1 January this year there have been a total of 12 calls recorded by BTP regarding a variety of offences including disorder, criminal damage and drunkenness with an average police response time of 10 minutes. London Underground has direct telephone links with the BTP force control room.
	As Westminster tube station is within the Government security zone area it is subject to additional police deployments and counter terrorist measures, carried out in close partnership with London Underground.

Bus Routes (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on funding for new bus routes in Lancashire.

Charlotte Atkins: Local authorities obtain the majority of their funding for local bus service support from the Government's revenue support grant (RSG). Decisions on the amount of RSG that is used for bus services are a matter for each individual authority. Lancashire county council's RSG settlement for 2005–06 is £779.54 million, an overall increase in grant of 5.3 per cent. over the current year.
	Local authorities have since 1998 also received significant Government support for rural bus services in the form of rural bus subsidy grant (RBSG). Lancashire have been allocated a total of £6.67 million in RBSG over the period 1998–99 to 2004–05. Their RBSG allocation for 2005–06 is £1.286 million. Lancashire have also been awarded a total of £5.9 million for 11 projects in our rural and urban bus challenge competitions between 1998 and 2003.
	In addition the Department's local transport plan funding supports capital expenditure on local transport, including new infrastructure used by bus services.

Correspondence

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East dated 29 September 2004, regarding Mr. R. Boyd of EDPA, Reference MC/CA/014501/04.

Charlotte Atkins: I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 21 October 2004.

Cycle Helmets

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the wearing by young people of cycle helmets; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We have received representations from a range of organisations and individuals who support the promotion and compulsion of cycle helmets for children and similar representations from those who believe they should be voluntary.
	Research has found that cycle helmets can be effective in reducing the severity of head injury for users of all ages, though particularly for children. Our policy is to persuade cyclists to protect themselves by wearing helmets.
	Our position on compulsion has been that at current wearing rates it would cause enforcement difficulties and could have an effect on cycling levels. But the Government will keep its policies in this as in all areas under review in the light of discussion in Parliament and elsewhere.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of his Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Blackpool, South constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to Blackpool borough council since 1997 is shown in the table below 1 . It has been Blackpool borough council to determine how that allocation has been spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
	
		£ million
		
			 Blackpool—Nature of funding 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 0.132 0.268 0.468 0.952 0.991 0.744 0.867 
			 Integrated block 0.251 0.594 0.700 2.000 2.384 2.632 1.600 
			 Targeted bus grants(64) 0 0 0 0.81 0.87 0 0 
			 Total 0.383 0.862 1.168 3.762 4.245 3.376 2.467 
		
	
	(63)Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	(64)Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Havant constituency, the effects on Havant of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Havant constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the number of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to Hampshire county council since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for Hampshire to determine how that allocation has spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
	
		Hampshire -- £ million
		
			 Nature of funding 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 3.369 2.980 4.388 9.870 10.524 13.156 15.221 
			 Integrated block 2.923 3.985 5.432 13.5 13.204 14.393 15.783 
			 Major schemes 2.663 0 0 0 0 5.142 0 
			 Targeted bus grants(66) 0.903 1.06 1.88 1.60 2.04 2.10 1.37 
			 Total 9.858 8.025 11.7 24.97 25.768 34.791 32.374 
		
	
	(65)Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	(66)Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding
	In addition, since 1997 the Havant constituency has benefited from investment in new rail rolling stock.

Departmental Policies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Huddersfield constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16-years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1billion in 1996–07 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to the Metropolitan borough of Kirklees since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for the Metropolitan borough of Kirklees to determine how that allocation has spent, in line with the local transport plan for West Yorkshire and the local priorities.
	1 Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996. Huddersfield also benefited from a share of the integrated block funding allocated to the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.
	
		Metropolitan borough of Kirklees—Nature of funding  -- £ million
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 1.374 3.752 6.227 6.163 6.405 6.646 8.398 
			 Integrated block 1.418 1.468  4.350 3.746 3.529 3.554 
			 Major schemes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Targeted bus grants(67) 0.92 0.76 1.47 2.38 2.05 2.77 0.98 
			 Total 3.712 5.98 7.697 12.89 12.20 12.94 12.93 
		
	
	(67)Includes rural bus subsidy grant and rural bus challenge funding.
	The constituency of Huddersfield is served by the TransPennine franchise which began operations in February 2004. It offers direct links from Huddersfield to destinations including Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle. It is also served by the new Northern franchise providing links to destinations throughout the north of England.
	Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood. statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past twenty years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maidenhead constituency, the effects on Maidenhead of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Maidenhead constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead since 1997 is shown in the table 1 . It has been for the borough council to determine how that allocation has been spent, in line with its local transport plan and its priorities.
	1 Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	
		£ million
		
			 Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 0.29 0.74 0.75 1.025 1.096 1.37 1.50 
			 Integrated block 0.10 0.65 0.83 1.700 1.690 1.70 1.84 
			 Major schemes Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 Targeted bus grants(68) 0.051 0.051 0.051 0.490 0.074 0.075 0.095 
			 Total 0.441 1.441 1.631 3.215 2.860 3.145 3.435 
		
	
	(68)Includes rural bus subsidy grant and rural bus challenge funding.
	In addition, since 1997 the Maidenhead constituency, which lies within the Thames area franchise, has benefited from investment in new rail rolling stock.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Witney constituency, the effects on Witney of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Witney constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road causalities in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the number of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	The funding provided directly to Oxfordshire county council since 1997 is shown in the following table 1 . It has been for Oxfordshire county council to determine how that allocation has spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
	
		Oxfordshire county council -- £ million
		
			 Nature of funding 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 2.038 3.078 5.793 8.045 8.013 10.016 11.017 
			 Integrated block 1.962 3.686 4.764 10.500 10.600 9.911 12.940 
			 Major schemes 1.510 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Targeted bus grants(70) 0.93 1.93 0.93 1.18 1.35 1.79 1.42 
			 Total 6.44 8.694 11.487 19.725 19.963 21.717 25.377 
		
	
	(69)Funding allocations for 1997–98 not included since they cover a period proceeding May 1997 and announcements concerning the 1997–98 allocations were made in 1996.
	(70)Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding
	In addition, since 1997 the Witney constituency, which lies within the Thames area franchise has benefited from investment in new rail rolling stock.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EC-Slovak Republic Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EC-Czech Republic Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee on the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway (EC-Czech Republic-Republic of Poland-Slovak Republic) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the (a) Italian (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU, the Advisory Committee on the control and reduction of pollution caused by the discharge of hydrocarbons and other dangerous substances at sea met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Management Committee on Marine Pollution (MCMP) has replaced the Committee referred to by the hon. Member. The MCMP met once during each of the Italian, Irish and Dutch presidencies (in September 2003, March 2004 and September 2004) in Brussels. The United Kingdom was represented at each of these meetings by the Counter Pollution Response Branch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EC-Poland Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EC-Romania Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European transport networks, (ii)Committee for granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European telecommunications networks met; when and where each meeting took place; what UK Government expert was present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The trans-European transport network Financial Assistance Committee (FAC) referred to by the hon. Member met four times during the course of the three Presidencies (on 1 July 2003, 24 October 2003, 10 June 2004 and 21 and 22 October 2004). The meetings took place in Brussels and on each occasion the United Kingdom was represented by an official from the European Division of the Department for Transport. The FAC is responsible for the implementation of Council regulation 2236/95 and associated budgetary allocations. Responsibility for the trans-European Telecommunications network rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Technical Adaptation Committee on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) Advisory Committee on the management of the research programme for management and storage of radioactive waste and management of the Community plan of action in the field of radioactive waste and (ii)Advisory Committee on measures to be taken in the event of a crisis in the market in the carriage of goods by road and for laying down the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road haulage services within a member state met; when and where each meeting took place; what UK Government expert was present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The matters with which this Committee deals are not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road passenger transport services within a member state met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on the reciprocal recognition of national boat masters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland water met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCOwebsite at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EC-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EC-Bulgaria Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EC-Hungary Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Consultative European Energy and Transport Forum met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the EEC-Slovenia Joint Transport Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Free Public Transport

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of providing free public transport (a) in each local transport authority area and (b) in England for (i)disabled people, (ii) all people aged over 60 years and (iii) all people under 19 in full-time education (A) in rural areas and (B) elsewhere.

Charlotte Atkins: Local authorities in England currently spend around £500 million per year on concessionary fares schemes.
	It is estimated that an extension of current concessionary fares schemes to provide free local public transport for people over 60 and disabled people within their local authority area would cost an additional £200 million per year (approximately £18 million for disabled people and £182 million for the over 60s). This includes local bus journeys and, where the local authority chooses to fund wider concessions, journeys on trains, underground, light rail and ferries within the local areas. The additional cost would rise to around £250 million per year (£25 million for disabled people and £225 million for the over 60s) if all local journeys on the national rail system were included.
	An England-wide scheme allowing free travel for all older and disabled people on all bus journeys would cost around £260 million per year more than the current system (approximately £24 million for disabled people and £236 million for the over 60s). The additional cost would rise to £500 million per year if all national rail journeys were included (£50 million for disabled people and £450 million for the over 60s). Breakdown by cost for each local authority or for rural and other areas is not available.
	To provide free local bus travel for all under 19-year-olds would require additional funding of £520 million per year. Extending this to an England-wide scheme allowing free bus travel would cost around £580 million per year. Costs have not been estimated for free travel restricted to those in full-time education; however it is estimated that a free travel scheme applying to educational trips only would cost an additional £290 million per year. No estimates have been made to include journeys on all forms of public transport. Breakdown by area is not available.

Hengistbury Head

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency make their watch section at Hengistbury Head available to members of National Coastwatch.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's facility at Hengistbury Head is an unmanned remote radio site housing radiocommunications equipment. Access for the National Coastwatch Institution has been carefully considered and cannot be granted because of the need to protect the security and integrity of the existing and future radiocommunications equipment, and the health safety and cost implications of partitioning the site. In addition the underlying terms of the property lease do not allow sub-letting to third parties.

Home Zones

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Home Zones there are in England; and how many of them were established with the aid of funding from his Department.

Charlotte Atkins: Between 2001–02 and 2003–04 local transport authorities have reported to the Department that they introduced 65 home zones in England (outside London), as part of their transport capital programmes, which are supported financially by the Department.
	The Department is supporting 59 homes zones through a specific grant, 19 having been completed by December 2004 with site works under way for 40 more. Other home zones are supported through the funding provided to local authorities in the general local transport capital settlement.

Mobile Phones

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2005, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), Official Report, column 1034W, on mobile phones, if he will make a statement on the latest survey.

David Jamieson: Details of the results of the latest survey in September 2004 are available on-line at www.trl.co.uk/abstracts/LF2094.pdf The next survey will be carried out in April 2005 and the results will be published in due course.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 10 February 2005, Official Report, columns 93–96WS on rail spending, what the cumulative level of borrowing for Network Rail was at 31 March 2004; and what the projected cumulative level of borrowing is for (a) 31 March 2005 and (b) 31 March 2009.

Tony McNulty: Network Rail's debt as of 31 March 2004 was £12.9 billionl.
	Network Rail's debt at 31 March 2005 is currently forecast to be approximately £16 billion 2 .
	Network Rail's debt at 31 March 2009 is currently forecast to be approximately £19.9 billionn 3 .
	Network Rail's actual borrowing requirements are subject to continual review. They are determined by the company, based upon its revenues and expenditure requirements, within the context of the Regulatory Settlement. The company will update its projections in its 2005 Business Plan to be published on 31 March 2005.
	Sources:
	1 Network Rail Annual Report and Accounts 2003–04 2 Latest forecast from Network Rail provided to the Office of Rail Regulation and Strategic Rail Authority. 3 Estimated debt at 31 March 2005, plus new borrowing requirements identified in the statement issued by the Secretary of State for Transport on 10 February 2005.

Network Rail

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected level of new borrowing by Network Rail is in each of the next four years.

Tony McNulty: I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my written ministerial statement on Thursday 10 February 2005, which contains the required information.

Network Rail

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Network Rail is free to negotiate contracts exclusively for the installation of ATMs for which there is a charge in stations.

Tony McNulty: The negotiation of contracts for the installation of automatic till machines (ATMs) is a commercial matter for Network Rail, the train operating companies who lease all but 17 of the stations on the national rail network and the companies wishing to install the machines at the stations.

Northern Way

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the recommendation of the Select Committee on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in its fourth report of session 2004–05, that the 10 year plan should be looked at again to ensure adequate support to the Northern Way; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department is already providing significant levels of funding for transport schemes across the three Northern Way regions. We are now consulting on proposals for regional funding allocations announced in the 2004 Future of Transport White Paper. These will provide an important opportunity for regions to influence the Government's spending decisions, to ensure that transport is fully integrated into long-term planning for sustainable economic growth. The Northern Way have identified a wide range of infrastructure improvements to support growth. The challenge now is to develop an evidence based approach which will help to identify strategic priorities within available resources. Department for Transport officials will continue to engage with the Northern Way as they take this analysis forward.

Official Residences

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the current occupants make towards the running costs of each; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i)domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment at each was in 2003–04.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport has no residential properties used by Ministers or officials.

Powered Wheelchairs/Scooters

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in his review of powered wheelchairs and scooters.

Charlotte Atkins: The first part of the review into the use of powered wheelchairs and powered scooters on the highway has been a research project to gather data and to find out the views of a wide range of stakeholders about the current laws. That work is now complete and draft reports have been submitted to the Department. The next stage will be to consider the findings of the research to determine whether any changes are required to the current laws and guidance.

Powershift

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Powershift energy efficient vehicle programme; and what new initiatives he plans on more environmentally benign transport.

David Jamieson: Following a consultation last year, the Department for Transport has announced that changes are being made to all the TransportEnergy .grant programmes, including Powershift, after the end of this financial year. The Government plans to move to a technology neutral approach—to incentivise the cleanest cars regardless of the technology or fuel type. The Government will also be adjusting the programmes to ensure they comply with European rules on state aid.
	The State Aid rules limit the amount of grant that member states can offer for environmental initiatives. In some cases this will mean that future grant levels will need to be reduced to ensure the grants allocated do not exceed permitted levels. However, overall funding for the grant programmes remains at planned levels, enabling more grants to be allocated to more interested parties.
	The Department will honour grant offer letters under the PowerShift programme until 31 March 2005. The timescale for introducing the new programmes will be dependent on the process of reviewing and clearing them with the European Commission. My officials will be working hard to ensure that this process is completed as quickly and smoothly as possible.
	Details of the new programmes have yet to be finalised. However, it is intended that Powershift will be replaced by a Low Carbon Vehicle programme that will award grants for cars on the basis of CO 2 performance. The Government also intends to seek European Commission approval of a Low Carbon Bus Programme to support demonstration trials of small fleets of low carbon buses.

Rail Fares

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Wessex Trains with regard to recent fare increases.

Tony McNulty: None. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has responsibility for regulating fares on the national rail network. Fares are regulated as prescribed in franchise agreements between the SRA and the train operating companies.

Rail Freight

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the publication of the Freight Assessments Need South East report.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1035W given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South, (Mr. Hancock).
	The Strategic Rail Authority has made assessments of the demand for freight on the railways in a series of market studies, referred to in the answer of 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 958W. Although they are UK market studies, much of the analysis is route specific, allowing for regional impacts to be assessed.

Rail Freight

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much freight was moved, by tonne kilometres, on the UK railways, in each year since 1990.

Alistair Darling: The information requested is in the table. This has been taken from the 'National Rail Trends Yearbook 2003–04', published by the Strategic Rail Authority.
	
		
			  Billion net tonne kms 
		
		
			 1990 16.7 
			 1991 16.0 
			 1992 15.3 
			 1993 15.5 
			 1994 13.8 
			 1995 13.0 
			 1996 13.3 
			 1997 15.1 
			 1998 16.9 
			 1999 17.3 
			 2000 18.2 
			 2001 18.1 
			 2002 19.4 
			 2003 18.7 
			 2004 18.9

Rail Freight

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the number of Railfreight interchanges which will be required in the UK.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1036W, given to the hon. Member for Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin).

Rail Services

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with train operating companies about the frequency of the services to and from Ashchurch station near Tewkesbury; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: None. Train operators are contractually required to operate a minimum level of service as prescribed in their franchise agreements with the Strategic Rail Authority. The current frequency of service to Ashchurch complies with Central Trains' and Wessex Trains' contractual requirements.

Railway Noise

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with Network Rail the modification of train horns which have been installed to meet the now obsolete specification for minimum noise standards in order to reduce the impact of train horn noise on trackside residents.

Tony McNulty: The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is responsible for specifying the requirements for when and where train horns must be used and Network Rail is responsible for deciding how train operators comply with the standards set by the RSSB.
	The RSSB has now lowered the minimum permissible sound level for train horns by eight decibels. This will permit train operators to modify and make adjustments to the volume of train horns where they consider it. South East Trains and Southern Trains have begun to install modified train horns on their fleets.

Railway Stations (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on funding for (a) new and (b) reopening railway stations in Lancashire;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the new bus and improved railway station at Chorley; and how much central government money was used to fund the project.

Tony McNulty: Funding of £137,000 was provided under the Strategic Rail Authority's Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) scheme and a further £283,000 was provided from the Department's capital allocation grant to Lancashire county council, to support refurbishment works at Chorley station.
	There are currently no plans to support funding for new, or the re-opening of, stations in Lancashire.

Regional Transport Boards

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expenditure on regional transport boards was in 2003–04; which areas each covers; and how many staff each employs.

Charlotte Atkins: There were no regional transport boards in 2003–04. Two experimental transport boards were established by the South East and Yorkshire and Humberside regions in 2004–05. The costs and staffing resources were effectively absorbed by the relevant organisations.
	Road Humps

Regional Transport Boards

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to update guidelines on the use of road humps.

David Jamieson: The Department hope to publish a Local Transport Note (LTN) on the design and effectiveness of traffic calming measures later this year. This document will draw together existing research and guidance on a range of traffic calming features, including road humps. There are no current plans to specifically update guidelines on the use of road humps.

Road Safety

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have been recorded in the most recent 12 months for which data are available involving a vehicle turning left across a bus or cycle lane into a private access.

David Jamieson: There were six such recorded injury road accidents in 2003, the last year for which data are available. Of these accidents, five were recorded as slight and the other was recorded as serious.

Road Safety

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued regarding priority when motorists are required to manoeuvre across a bus or cycle lane to turn left from a highway into a private access.

David Jamieson: Rules 158 and 159 of The Highway Code give advice on turning left, as follows:
	158. Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle. Cyclists and motorcyclists in particular may be hidden from your view; and
	159. When turning
	keep as close to the left as is safe and practical
	give way to any vehicles using a bus lane, cycle lane or tramway from either direction.

Speed Cameras (M25)

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speeding offences have been identified by temporary speed cameras between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25 since the current road works began; how many (a) fixed penalty notices, (b) prosecutions and (c) fines have resulted from those offences; what the value is of the fines imposed; and what percentage of those sums has been paid.

David Jamieson: The Metropolitan police advise that between 7 February 2004 and 1 February 2005, 17,183 fixed penalty notices and 400 summonses have been issued following speeding being recorded by the temporary speed cameras between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25. The total of fixed penalty fines imposed is £1,030,980, of which fines totalling £865,980 have so far been paid—84 per cent. of the total. Recently issued fixed penalty notices will not yet have been paid. Fines imposed following summonses are determined individually by magistrates.

Street Works

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has evaluated on the effects of utility street works on traffic congestion levels; and if he will revise the Government's published estimate of the contribution of utility company street works to congestion in the light of that research.

Charlotte Atkins: Last year the Department received a report from its consultants, Halcrow, which estimated the annual cost of congestion due to utility street works as over £4 billion. Earlier this month the Department received another report, commissioned by the National Joint Utilities Group, which looks at the disruption due to utility works. Both reports point to the need to improve the ways in which these works are managed so as to reduce the disruption they cause. We are currently consulting on a several such measures, including permits schemes, fixed penalty notices for certain offences, more advanced notice about proposed works and restrictions on further works where roads have been recently dug up.

Taxis

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 1040W, on taxis, how his Department would define purpose built taxis if the Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness for London Taxicabs change to allow converted or adapted MPV vehicles to be licensed as taxis in London.

Charlotte Atkins: I recognise that the term purpose built taxi" is often used to describe the type of cab which meets the requirements of the existing Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness (MCF). However the term is not defined in legislation. Nor is it one that the Department is required to define formally.
	The review by Transport for London of the MCF is continuing.

Traffic Management Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new responsibilities the Traffic Management Act 2004 places on local authorities.

Charlotte Atkins: The Traffic Management Act 2004 places a new network management duty on local traffic authorities to secure the expeditious movement of traffic of their network and facilitate it on the network of others, as far as may be reasonably practicable and with regard to their other obligations, policies and objectives. Guidance on carrying out this duty was published in November last year and the duty came into force on 4 January 2005. This is the main new responsibility for authorities under the Act.
	Provisions in other parts of the Act will help ensure that the way in which authorities carry out their highway works is brought into line with the standard that utility companies are already expected to meet, and will help improve the way in which authorities manage their road networks. In order to enhance Transport for London's co-ordination role in London, the Act provides that a London borough proposing to carry out schemes or road works that affect the Strategic Road Network must notify Transport for London.

Traffic Management Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated expenditure on the regional control centres established under the Traffic Management Act 2004 is.

David Jamieson: The total expenditure on setting up the seven Regional Control Centres buildings including technology costs but excluding on-road services and staff costs, is estimated to be £63.7 million.
	The annual running cost for the seven Regional Control Centres is estimated to be in the region of £9.3 million, excluding on-road services and staff costs.

Traffic Management Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Government has made of the impact of the Traffic Management Act 2004 on the costs of local authorities.

Charlotte Atkins: The Government considers that the Traffic Management Act 2004, overall, should be cost neutral for local authorities, taking account of the opportunities to recover some costs through the provisions of the Act, and the scope to use existing resources in new ways.

TREASURY

1992 Treasury Rules

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the payments under the 1992 Treasury Rules were invoked for (a) Gunwharf, Portsmouth, (b) Royal Clarence Yard, Gosport, (c) Peninsular Barracks, Winchester and (d) Ashford Barracks, Kent; and whether the Rules have ever been invoked more than once on the same site.

Ivor Caplin: I have been asked to reply. 
	Clawback payments to the Ministry of Defence were invoked in connection with Gunwharf—more than once—and Royal Clarence Yard. However, there is no clawback clause in the contract for either Peninsula or Ashford Barracks as in each case the purchasers paid full market value at the time of disposal.

Airline Cabin Crew

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue withdrew the flat rate expenses allowance for airline cabin crew; what criteria were used in making this decision; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Flat rate expense allowances are agreed with individual employers to reflect individual circumstances. The hon. Member's question concerns a particular airline. The Inland Revenue is in discussion with the airline concerned to agree a flat rate expense allowance that reflects the appropriate level of expenses in line with the qualifying conditions set in tax law.

Alcohol-related Deaths (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths within Leicester, South alcohol was found to be the primary cause in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Parmjit Singh Gill, dated 21 February 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking in how many deaths within Leicester, South Parliamentary Constituency, alcohol was found to be the primary cause in each year since 1997. (216387)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. The attached table shows the numbers of deaths among residents of Leicester, South Parliamentary Constituency where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use in the years 1997 to 2003.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(71) for Leicester, South parliamentary constituency(72) 1997 to 2003(73)
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1997 10 
			 1998 9 
			 1999 10 
			 2000 17 
			 2001 10 
			 2002 12 
			 2003 16 
		
	
	(71)For the years 1997–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–2003 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were used:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly" 17, pp 5–14.
	(72)Usual residents of this area.
	(73)Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Aviation Fuel

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment has been made of the merits of introducing a tax on aviation fuel.

Stephen Timms: None.

Capital Allowances

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the system of capital allowances for plant and machinery.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's proposals for modernisation of the taxation of capital assets—including capital allowances—are set out in a Technical Note on Corporation Tax reform, published by the Inland Revenuein December 2004. This is available at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/pbr2004/sup_ct-reform-tech-note.pdf
	In light of this, any changes to the system of capital allowances for plant and machinery will be considered by the Chancellor as part of the normal Budget cycle.

Carers

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of carers who are over the age of 65 years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 21 February 2005
	The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the number of carers who are over the age of 65 years. I am replying in his absence. (217039)
	I refer you to the answer given in the Official Report of 31 January 2005 columns 590W to 591W, which includes the latest available information.

Child Trust Fund Payments

Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in each ward of Wallasey constituency contain children who qualify for child trust fund payments.

Stephen Timms: I refer My hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Martin Linton) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, columns 87–88W. All children born and living in the UK since 1 September 2002 whose families receive child benefit will be eligible for the child trust fund.

Climate Change Levy

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was received in 2003–04 from those companies paying the climate change levy at 20 per cent. of the full rate.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to determine the revenue the Exchequer received in 2003–04 from those companies paying the climate change levy at 20 per cent. of the full rate.

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the ministerial design champion for his Department is.

Paul Boateng: I am the ministerial design champion for the Treasury.

Labour Statistics

Andy Burnham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Leigh in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004; and if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (i) adult and (ii) youth employment in Leigh over the last 15 years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Andy Burnham, dated 21 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies and unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (214587)
	Statistics on vacancies in total are only available from the ONS Vacancy Survey, which provides information at national level only. For local areas, figures for vacancies held by the Jobcentre Plus administrative system are available for periods up to April 2001. However, due to changes to that system, more recent figures are available only for newly notified vacancies, and not on a comparable basis.
	There were 223 unfilled vacancies registered at Jobcentres in Leigh on average during 1997. The latest comparable figure, the average for the 12 months to April 2001, was 270. These figures represent only those vacancies notified to Jobcentres, not all vacancies in an area.
	Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of long-term unemployed people, both youth and adult, who were resident in Leigh Parliamentary Constituency, for each twelve month period ending February from 1999 to 2004, the most recent available period. Information on length of time unemployed is not available for earlier periods.
	These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of young people aged 18 to 24 years old and adults (aged 25 and over) resident in the Leigh constituency claiming JSA benefits for over 12 months or more in each year from 1989 to 2004.
	
		Table 1: People resident in Leigh parliamentary constituency unemployed for over 12 months -- Thousand
		
			 12 months ending February Youth (aged 16 to 24) Adult (aged 25 and over) 
		
		
			 1999 (74)— 1,000 
			 2000 (74)— 1,000 
			 2001 (74)— 1,000 
			 2002 (74)— (74)— 
			 2003 (74)— (74)— 
			 2004 (74)— (74)— 
		
	
	(74)Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Leigh constituency claiming for 12 months or more
		
			  Annual averages Youth claimants (aged 18 to 24)(75) Adult claimants (aged 25 and over)(75) 
		
		
			 1989 251 735 
			 1990 157 555 
			 1991 198 588 
			 1992 331 871 
			 1993 361 1,045 
			 1994 274 944 
			 1995 177 785 
			 1996 140 690 
			 1997 85 495 
			 1998 40 250 
			 1999 10 295 
			 2000 10 260 
			 2001 5 210 
			 2002 5 180 
			 2003 5 170 
			 2004 10 145 
		
	
	(75)Computerised claims only.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus administrative system

Labour Statistics

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the levels of (a) adult and (b) youth employment in Morecambe and Lunesdale were in each of the last eight years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Ms Geraldine Smith, dated 21 February 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about adult and youth employment. I am replying in his absence. (216777)
	The attached table gives estimates of the number of youths and adults in employment, who were resident in the Morecambe & Lunesdale Parliamentary Constituency, for the twelve month periods ending November each year from 1997 to 2004.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	
		Employed youths and adults resident in Morecambe and Lunesdale parliamentary constituency
		
			 12 months ending February Youths (aged 16–24) Adults (aged 25 and over) 
		
		
			 1997 4,000 29,000 
			 1998 4,000 32,000 
			 1999 3,000 32,000 
			 2000 5,000 33,000 
			 2001 7,000 31,000 
			 2002 4,000 31,000 
			 2003 7,000 33,000 
			 2004 8,000 32,000 
		
	
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Customs Section of the Joint Committee (EEC-Norway) met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The UK was not involved with these meetings, which are the responsibility of the European Commission. Consequently the information requested is not available.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Customs Section of the Joint Committee (EEC-Iceland) met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The UK was not involved with these meetings, which are the responsibility of the European Commission. Consequently the information requested is not available.

Euro

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the eventual phasing out of national designs on euro notes and coins is planned; and what (a) volume and (b) value of euro notes and coins has been repatriated since the inception of the euro.

Stephen Timms: The informal ECOFIN Council of Verona agreed in April 1996 that euro coins should have a distinctive national obverse side, the designs for which were decided by each member state. Arrangements concerning the technical specifications of euro coins were formally set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 975/98 of 3 May 1998. Arrangements concerning the transfer of euro notes and coins are the responsibility of the European Central Bank and can be found on their website: www.ecb.int

Football Testimonials

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to end tax-free testimonials for professional footballers; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The proceeds from footballers' testimonial events may already be chargeable to tax under present law. Whether they are or not depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. We have no current plans to change this. However, we keep all aspects of the tax system, including this one, under review.

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of the recent release of documents relating to the United Kingdom's exit from the ERM in 1992 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Stephen Timms: No Treasury Minister or special adviser had any involvement in the release of these documents. I understand that the documents were obtained within the relevant cost limit.

Health Treatment (Charitable Donations)

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of exempting charitable donations for health treatment from income calculations in relation to tax credit entitlements.

Stephen Timms: All charitable donations which qualify for Gift Aid, whatever their purpose, should be deducted from the calculation of income when claiming the child and working tax credits. Information is provided in the guidance notes that accompany the tax credits claim form and annual declaration. There is also a working sheet available on request from the Inland Revenue Tax Credits Helpline to help claimants make such deductions when working out their income for tax credit purposes.

Home Repossessions (North Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many home repossessions there have been in North Durham in each year since 1990.

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 7 February 2005, Official Report, column 1294W.

Departmental Policies (Huddersfield)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Timms: The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 designed to better the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented the economic performance of the Huddersfield constituency has improved considerably. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 53 per cent., long-term unemployment has fallen by 90 per cent., and long-term youth unemployment by 91 per cent.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./

Inheritance Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the total value of gifts made in a year which become exempt from inheritance tax because they have been made at least seven years before death; and what estimate he has made of how many people make such gifts in a year.

Dawn Primarolo: Information to make reliable estimates is not available.

Inheritance Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on the inheritance tax yield of changing the rate at which inheritance tax is chargeable to (a) zero per cent. for sums between £0 to £300,000, (b) 40 per cent. for sums between £300,000 to £600,000 and (c) 50 per cent. for sums over £600,000.

Stephen Timms: The proposed regime would produce additional yield of about £30 million in a full year.

Insulation Material

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the environment of the differential rates of VAT applied to insulation material when bought privately and when installed.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to improving household energy efficiency, as part of their programme to meet the Energy White Paper targets and see the use of economic instruments as an effective way to implement environmental policy.
	The Government apply a reduced rate of VAT for the contractual installation of energy-saving materials in certain circumstances and have a long-standing commitment to pursue an amendment to the EU sixth VAT directive to permit a reduced rate of VAT for the purchase of energy-saving materials for DIY installation.
	Evaluation of policy initiatives to protect the environment, including tax measures, is being carried out as part of the climate change programme review. This review is due to report its findings in the summer.

Ivory

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what weight of ivory and how many ivory products were seized by HM Customs and Excise since March 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of ivory seizures, including weight where available, made by HM Customs and Excise in the first half of the fiscal year 2004–05 will appear in the combined Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise spring report, due to be published in May 2005. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Landfill Tax

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was generated by the landfill tax in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2002–03.

Dawn Primarolo: Landfill tax receipts are published by Customs and Excise in the Landfill Tax Bulletin, a copy of which can be found on the UK Trade Information website at www.uktradeinfo.com.
	Landfill tax receipts for the financial year (net of landfill tax credit scheme payments) are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002–03 541 
			 2003–04 607

National Insurance Contributions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many people who pay national insurance contributions would not do so if the threshold for payment were to be raised to £10,000 per annum, in the first year following the raising of the threshold.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of people who are currently projected to pay national insurance contributions in the UK, who would not do so if the primary threshold and lower profits limit were raised to £10,000 per annum in the year 2005–06 is estimated to be 4 million. The estimate is based upon the Report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2005 and the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2005".

Office for National Statistics

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated expenditure by the Office for National Statistics on producing and compiling statistics relating to England at Government Office for Region level was in the last period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Mr. Colin Mowl, to Mrs. Caroline Spelman, dated 21 February 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question on what the estimated expenditure by the Office for National Statistics on producing and compiling statistics relating to England at Government Office for Region level was in the last period for which figures are available. (216035)
	For the reasons stated in the answer that appeared in the Official Report, number 125, column 312, it is not possible to provide the costs you seek to identify.

Public Expenditure

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the influence of public spending increases on the state of the economy.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury's latest projections for public expenditure and the Treasury's latest economic forecast are set out in the 2004 pre-Budget report, which is available in the Library of the House. Updated projections will be provided with the Budget.

Royal Marriage

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the costs to public funds which will arise from the proposed marriage between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles; whether rules exist in respect of public expenditure on such matters; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Since the wedding will be a private event, I have made no such estimate.
	Government Departments manage their own budgets in line with their statutory responsibilities, objectives and priorities.

Stamp Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the reduction in stamp duty yield from residential property which would result from raising the threshold at which 1 per cent. stamp duty starts from £60,000 to £150,000.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated revenue cost, in 2005–06, of restructuring stamp duty on residential property sales by raising the threshold from £60,000 to £150,000 is £480 million. This does not include any allowance for behavioural changes.

Stamp Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the cost of reliefs from stamp duty for transfers in designated disadvantaged wards was accounted for by (a) residential transfers and (b) non-residential transfers in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: In 2003–04 the proportion of disadvantaged areas relief claimed in respect of residential transfers was estimated at 15 per cent. of the total relief claimed, and the amount claimed in respect of non-residential transfers was estimated at 85 per cent.

Tax Credits

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many families in Morecambe and Lunesdale have received (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit;
	(2)  what the average monetary value is of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit awards.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits (broken down by families with and without children) in each constituency appear in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics, Geographical analyses." This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
	Information on average awards is not available.

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Tax Credit Office does not reimburse members of the general public for overpayments until the end of the financial year.

Stephen Timms: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 (COP26) 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?' sets out the Department's approach to handling tax credits overpayments.
	It is only after the end of the year, once all the information about income and circumstances is available, that the Revenue will compare tax credit entitlement with what they have paid. They will then finalise the award and send claimants a finalisation notice. If there is an underpayment a lump sum payment is then made. Alternatively, if the finalisation notice shows an overpayment for the year, it will wherever possible be recovered from a continuing award.
	When a person's circumstances change during the year the Revenue will adjust the payments for the remainder of the year with the aim of paying the right amount of tax credits for the year as a whole.

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances individuals who have made overpayments to the Tax Credit Office due to errors by the office are eligible to claim financial hardship payments.

Stephen Timms: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 (What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?") sets out their approach to handling overpayments of tax credits.
	Additional tax credits payments may be made by the Inland Revenue to prevent hardship where payments are reduced following the adjustment of an award.

Tax Credits

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families who will benefit from the extension of the subsidy in the child care element of the working tax credit in 2006 announced in the pre-Budget report in December 2004; and what he estimates the average gain per family per year will be.

Stephen Timms: Assuming that the number of beneficiaries and average child care costs remains at December 2004 levels, around 330 thousand families will benefit from the increase in the percentage of child care costs covered in the child care element of tax credits. The average (mean) gain is assumed to be £400 per year.

Tax Credits

Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency claim working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits (broken down by families with and without children) in each constituency appears in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2004" This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
	Estimates for smaller areas are not available.

VAT

John Grogan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT registered businesses there were on average in the area of (a) Selby district council and (b) City of York council in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: Customs and Excise do not collect data on the number of VAT registered businesses by geographical area. Information on VAT registered businesses by area is available via the Small Business Service website www.sbs.gov.uk. The following table shows the number of enterprises registered for VAT at the start of the year for the unitary authorities and local authority districts within the Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region.
	
		Number of VAT registered enterprises at the start of 1997 and 2004
		
			 Area type Area 1997 2004 
		
		
			 Region Yorkshire and the Humber GOR 121,975 129,645 
			 
			 UA East Riding of Yorkshire 9,705 10,115 
			 UA Kingston upon Hull city of 4,455 4,505 
			 UA North East Lincolnshire 3,300 3,435 
			 UA North Lincolnshire 3,985 4,235 
			 UA York 4,055 4,670 
			 
			 County North Yorkshire county 23,115 24,775 
			 LA Craven 2,670 2,845 
			 LA Hambleton 3,995 4,155 
			 LA Harrogate 6,025 6,715 
			 LA Richmondshire 2,025 2,095 
			 LA Ryedale 2,860 3,010 
			 LA Scarborough 3,200 3,270 
			 LA Selby 2,340 2,690 
			 
			 County South Yorkshire metropolitan county 24,170 25,910 
			 LA Barnsley 3,900 4,365 
			 LA Doncaster 4,940 5,580 
			 LA Rotherham 4,270 4,690 
			 LA Sheffield 11,055 11,275 
			 
			 County West Yorkshire metropolitan county 49,190 52,005 
			 LA Bradford 10,270 10,780 
			 LA Calderdale 5,495 5,890 
			 LA Kirklees 9,475 10,400 
			 LA Leeds 18,105 18,230 
			 LA Wakefield 5,845 6,705 
		
	
	Source:
	Small Business Service www.sbs.gov.uk

VAT

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy, in cases where the Inland Revenue is persuaded that a VAT registration is unnecessary and mistaken, that (a) penalties for non-payment and (b) backdated tax claims should be withdrawn; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Where a person makes taxable supplies and is registered for VAT voluntarily, the registration cannot be cancelled retrospectively. The person is liable to account for VAT on taxable supplies made and may be liable to penalties during the period of the registration.
	Where Customs and Excise register a person for VAT and they subsequently discover that the person was neither required nor entitled to be registered, they will remove the person from the register and withdraw any assessments made for arrears of tax or penalty. Customs are, however, able to recover from that person any amount he has charged to customers as VAT and he may be liable to a penalty on this amount.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Licensing Act

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in implementing the Licensing Act 2003.

Tessa Jowell: I am pleased to announce that 7 February marked the start of the transition from the old licensing regimes to the arrangements under the 2003 Act. Applicants have six months to convert existing licences and until November to secure new licences. The necessary regulations have been made and the first two personal licence qualifications under the Act have been accredited. The old licensing laws will end in November and be superseded by a licensing regime which is fit for the 21st century and will benefit the whole community.

Licensing Act

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's advice to local authorities is on assessing the local cumulative impact of licensing applications made under the Licensing Act 2003.

Richard Caborn: On 7 July last year, we published our guidance to licensing authorities and this is available in the House Library and also on our website www.culture.gov.uk. Our advice on assessing the local cumulative impact of licensing applications made under the 2003 Act can be found in sections 3.13–3.28 of the guidance.

Licensing Act

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the financial implications of the Licensing Act 2003 for sports clubs.

Richard Caborn: In setting the fee levels and the allocation of premises to a band based on its non-domestic rateable value we have considered the impact of the approach on clubs, including sports clubs. We do not consider that the financial implications on such clubs will be significant.

Licensing Act

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the impact of licence fee levels on amateur and voluntary sports clubs.

Richard Caborn: In setting the fee levels and the allocation of premises to a band based on its non-domestic rateable value we have considered the impact of the approach on clubs, including sports clubs. We do not consider that the impact on such clubs will be significant.

Faith Communities (Built Heritage)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policies towards financial support for the protection of the built heritage of faith communities.

Estelle Morris: My Department has in place a comprehensive package of financial support for the repair and maintenance of historic ecclesiastical buildings. The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme repays the equivalent of the VAT paid on repairs to listed churches and other places of worship. English Heritage operates schemes for the funding of repair and maintenance of historic churches and cathedrals.

Alcohol Licensing (Bridgwater)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many alcohol licences are currently issued to premises in the Bridgwater constituency.

Richard Caborn: We do not have a record of the number of alcohol licences currently issued in the Bridgwater constituency.
	However, I can provide statistics for the petty sessional areas of Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane and West Somerset, which include Bridgwater. As of June 2004 there were 799 on-licensed premises and 263 off-licence premises—a total of 1,062 licences.
	DCMS deposited the source publication for these figures, Statistical Bulletin Liquor Licensing (England and Wales, July 2003-June 2004)", on 27 October 2004 in the House Libraries. This document is available on the DCMS website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/research/statistics_outputs/liquor_licensing_statistics.htm

Children's Sport

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many children participated in (a) boxing, (b) rugby, (c) football, (d) netball and (e) hockey in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The results of the largest and most comprehensive survey of school sport in England—published on 29 April 2004—showed that within School Sport Partnership schools; 97 per cent. offer football, 84 per cent. offer netball, 77 per cent. offer hockey, 67 per cent. offer rugby union, 12 per cent. rugby league and around 1 per cent. offer boxing.

Children's Sport

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many schoolchildren there are in the Bridgwater constituency; and what percentage participate in two hours of quality physical sport or activity each week.

Richard Caborn: There were 12,611 pupils aged 5–19 attending schools in the Bridgwater constituency as of January 2004 (the latest figures available).
	The constituency level information sought is not held centrally in the format requested. However, the 2003–04 PE, School Sport and Club Links survey showed that overall, 62 per cent. of pupils in schools within a School Sport Partnership (at the time of the survey, 30 per cent. of all schools in England) spend at least two hours in a typical week on high-quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum.
	Within the constituency of Bridgwater there is one School Sport Partnership, comprising 31 schools. All schools, both within Bridgwater as well as nationally, will be part of a School Sport Partnership by September 2006.

Departmental Policies

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the Blyth Valley constituency, the effects of the Department's policies on the Blyth Valley since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Blyth Valley since 2 May 1997.
	In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. A school sport partnership involving four Primary Link teachers is based at St. Benet Biscop in Blyth Valley. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Blyth Valley have benefited from six Sport England Lottery grants totalling £493,758.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, North East grants increased from £5.7 million to £12.2 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in regularly funded organisations in the North East will be £11.3 million. Blyth Valley has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including the Northern Cultural Skills Partnership and the Northern Disability Arts Forum.
	From September 2005, schools in Blyth Valley will be included in the third phase of the Creative Partnerships programme which began in 2002. Creative Partnerships aims to give schoolchildren and their teachers the opportunity to explore their creativity by working on sustained projects with creative organisations and individuals, including artists, theatre companies, dance studios, museums, orchestras, film-makers and historic buildings. Funding of £65 million was allocated for the period 2002–05 to develop Creative Partnerships, and the programme will receive at least a further £86 million in 2005–08.
	Young people in Blyth Valley have also benefited from the setting up of the Northumberland Youth Music Action Zone, known as CoMusica, in 2000. CoMusica has received a total of £866,500 and 1,450 young people from across Northumberland have taken part in its local music projects and events.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Blyth Valley will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high-quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in Northumberland. The UK Film Council has, through Northern Film and Media, awarded £45,000 to a number of projects by writers based in the Blyth Valley .
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Blyth Valley with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 4,135.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licences and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licences for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Blyth Valley, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Blyth Valley has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including One North East. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Blyth Valley. English Heritage has awarded grants worth £147,940 to buildings or organisations in Blyth Valley since 2 May 1997, including Seaton Delavel Hall.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Blyth Valley are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million Lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England. Information from the National Lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Blyth Valley has benefited from over 330 awards totalling over £6.3 million. Of these, 22 awards worth over £1.7 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund, which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Huddersfield since 2 May 1997.
	In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. There is one school sport partnership involving two school sport co-ordinators and nine primary link teachers in Huddersfield. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Huddersfield have benefited from 19 Sport England lottery grants totalling £12,395,679, including two awards worth £249,603 in total, from the £108 million investment in innovative sports facilities through the Active England programme.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–05. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, Yorkshire and the Humber grants increased from £6.7 million to £21.3 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England, Yorkshire and the Humber investment in regularly funded organisations will be £23.4 million. Huddersfield has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the Lawrence Batley Theatre.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Huddersfield will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high-quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	Our support for, and promotion of, the film and broadcasting industries have contributed to the general success of film-making and television activity in the Huddersfield area. A number of projects have received funding through Screen Yorkshire.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Huddersfield with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 was 5,095.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11 pm on new year's eve to 11 am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licences and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licences for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Huddersfield, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Huddersfield has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including Yorkshire Forward. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Yorkshire.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £245,000 to buildings and organisations in Huddersfield since 2 May 1997.
	In common with all those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Huddersfield constituency are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant. In addition, the Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	The Department has been an energetic advocate of the community value of public libraries. Kirklees council has recognised this value and has undertaken initiatives such as the 'Bibliotherapy Project' where 'Bibliotherapists' work in the community alongside health professionals in local areas of social need to 'prescribe' books and promote the benefits of reading for relaxation, reducing stress, anxiety and depression. DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund 2000–01 awarded £45,000 to this project, which benefited people in Huddersfield.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Huddersfield has benefited from over 342 awards totalling over £26.5 million. Of these, 55 awards worth over £8.9 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund, which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Departmental Policies

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Loughborough constituency, the effects of her Department's policies on Loughborough since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies and actions have had a significant impact on Loughborough since 2 May 1997.
	In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. There is one school sport partnership in Loughborough based at Burleigh community college involving four School Sport Co-ordinators, 18 Primary Link teachers and one partnership Development Manager. Burleigh community college has also been awarded a Sport England grant of £272,027 to support the School Sport Co-ordinator programme. To achieve our challenging targets for increased participation in sport and physical activity, we have invested in thousands of new and refurbished public sports facilities. Sports facilities in Loughborough have benefited from 10 Sport England community capital lottery grants totalling £11,662,082, two awards worth £685,074 in total from the £108 million investment in innovative sports facilities through the Active England programme. The English Institute of Sport based in Loughborough has received a further seven lottery grants from Sport England totalling £29,563,079.
	We have increased our national funding to the arts in real terms by 60 per cent. from £199 million in 1998–99 to £367 million in 2004–5. Between 1998–99 and 2003–04 Arts Council England, East Midlands grants increased from £4.3 million to £8.9 million. In 2005–06 the total Arts Council England investment in regularly funded organisations in the East Midlands will be £9.3 million. Loughborough has benefited from grants to arts projects, organisations and individuals, including Charnwood Arts and the Eastern orchestral Board.
	Culture Online was launched in 2002 to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. Many of its projects are aimed at children of school age and at audiences that might not otherwise participate in arts and culture, including those who do not easily have access to arts and culture, people from deprived communities and people with particular educational or physical needs. People in Loughborough will be among those who benefit from Culture Online. Between 2002 and 2004, £13 million was allocated to fund 20 Culture Online projects.
	Through our commitment to public service broadcasting we have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high-quality original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and Channel 4, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. The Communications Act 2003 includes provisions to ensure that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
	In November 2000 we introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available. However, according to Department for Work and Pensions records, the number of households in Loughborough with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2003–4 was 4,585.
	We have changed the licensing laws to allow people to hold and attend commercial dances on Sunday, to make it easier for restaurants to open an hour later, and to relax the alcohol licensing hours from 11pm on new year's eve to 11am on new year's day in all future years; and we have given the police greater powers to take action against under-age drinking and disorderly and noisy licensed premises. The Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, will introduce a streamlined, consistent and fair licensing regime for the provision of alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment. It will provide greater choice for consumers, bring regeneration and increased employment opportunities and protect local residents whose lives have been blighted by disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licences and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licences for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Loughborough, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Tourism in Loughborough has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 we established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies, including the East Midlands Development Agency. These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Loughborough.
	English Heritage has awarded grants worth £79,700 to Loughborough since 2 May 1997.
	In common with all of those in the United Kingdom, the public library branches in Loughborough are connected to the internet through the People's Network which was funded through a £120 million lottery grant and which has put all the United Kingdom's public libraries on-line. In addition, the Department is funding the museums, libraries and archives council with £5 million over three years to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme, which is designed to encourage improvement across the public libraries sector in England.
	Information from the national lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Loughborough has benefited from over 230 awards totalling over £49.5 million. Of these, 21 awards, worth over £2.8 million, were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999. The New Opportunities Fund merged with the Community Fund in June 2004 to form the Big Lottery Fund.

Digital Broadcasting

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which constituencies in England are not able to receive digital reception.

Estelle Morris: The vast majority of households in England can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital TV services via either digital satellite, digital terrestrial or cable.
	However at least a quarter of households cannot currently receive the digital terrestrial television (DTT) service; this figure cannot be increased before switchover. We do not have a breakdown of coverage by constituency but we are arranging for DTT coverage maps to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Freeview also provides a comprehensive postcode database (www.freeview.co.uk <http://www.freeview.co.uk>) that gives availability of digital terrestrial television throughout the UK.

Digital Broadcasting

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the percentage of the population in the Bridgwater constituency which does not have access to digital television.

Estelle Morris: The vast majority of households in Bridgwater can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via digital satellite. However, according to Ofcom, digital terrestrial coverage in and around the Bridgwater area is patchy; this cannot be improved before switchover, due to topography and technical constraints on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmissions.
	We do not have a breakdown of coverage by constituency but we are arranging for DTT coverage maps to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Freeview also provides a comprehensive postcode database (www.freeview.co.uk <http://www.freeview.co.uk>) that gives availability of digital terrestrial television throughout the UK.

Digital Broadcasting

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when digital reception will be available in (a) the constituency of Solihull and (b) postcode area B92;
	(2)  for what reasons digital reception is not available in Solihull.

Estelle Morris: The vast majority of households in Solihull can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via either digital satellite, digital terrestrial or cable. However, according to Ofcom, digital terrestrial coverage in and around the Solihull area is patchy; this cannot be improved before switchover, due to the technical constraints on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmissions from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.
	No firm dates for Switchover have been set, but Ofcom have suggested an indicative date of 2010 for the Central ITV region.
	The Government will confirm the timetable once all the remaining issues relating to digital switchover are resolved and we are satisfied that the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected.

Digital Broadcasting

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure that people in the constituency of Solihull will be able to receive analogue reception up to the point of their being able to benefit from digital reception.

Estelle Morris: This process will begin by switching off one analogue channel, which will immediately be made available on a digital multiplex, also carrying other digital services. Then at a later date the other analogue services will be switched off and immediately replaced by the remaining digital services.

Film Industry

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support the Government are offering the UK film industry.

Estelle Morris: The Government are committed to creating a sustainable, stable and successful film industry. The UK Film Council, our strategic body for film, allocates Lottery money for film making, and works with Government support to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the UK. The Government itself continues to make available generous and appropriately-targeted tax relief for film makers, and is working to create the best possible framework for increased and improved co-productions between UK film makers and their counterparts abroad.

Gaelic Language

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is on the use of the Gaelic language; and what plans her Department has to prepare and implement a Gaelic language scheme.

Richard Caborn: DCMS does not have a Gaelic language scheme. However, our good practice policy is to ensure that Gaelic versions are available on request.

Licensing

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when licensing authorities were informed that Government-approved forms for the new licensing regulations were available;
	(2)  in what formats the new licensing forms were made available on the departmental website; and for what reasons the Word format was only available to those who had already bought the right to the US font style called Bliss;
	(3)  when the Department put the new licensing forms to comply with the new licensing regulations on the departmental website;
	(4)  whether the Bliss font style that was available in Word format for the new forms for licensing applications was made freely available on the departmental website;
	(5)  what the official start date was for the new licensing forms to be used.

Richard Caborn: 7 February marked the start of the transition from the old licensing regimes to the arrangements under the 2003 Act. There was no requirement to apply on the first appointed day; applicants have six months to convert existing licences and until November to secure new licences before the new regime comes into force. New forms were placed on our website www.culture.gov.uk on 4 February at which point we also informed LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) so that they could inform local authorities. However, near final versions of the forms have been available for several weeks and applicants have been able to use these to plan their applications. Both versions of the application form were made available on our website as pdf files. They were not made available on our website in Microsoft Word format using the Bliss font, although we hope to be in a position to provide them in Word format using the Arial font soon.

Licensing

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public house licences were withdrawn in 2004 due to the sale of alcohol to (a) individuals below the minimum legal age and (b) inebriated individuals.

Richard Caborn: We do not have information about the reasons for licence revocations and are therefore unable to provide the breakdown of figures in the categories that the hon. Gentleman has requested, but we can provide the overall figure for public house justices' on-licence revocations in the 12 months ending 30 June 2004.
	The overall number of public house justices' on-licence revocations in England and Wales was 186 in 2004. These statistics are collected on a triennial basis and are for the year to 30 June.
	DCMS deposited the source publication for these figures, Statistical Bulletin Liquor Licensing (England and Wales, July 2003-June 2004)", on 27 October 2004 in the House Libraries. This document is available on the DCMS website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/research/statistics_outputs/liquor_licensing_statistics.htm.

National Lottery

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received proposing that lottery tickets should indicate that grants may be restricted to exclude applications from areas deemed to be affluent.

Estelle Morris: None. Lottery distributors do not exclude applications from geographic areas on the grounds of affluence. Lottery tickets do indicate that further information about the National Lottery is available at www.national-lottery.co.uk <http://www.national-lottery.co.uk> and this includes details of how to apply for a Lottery grant and the many awards which have been made since the Lottery was established in 1994. Lottery distributors, the Lottery operator and the National Lottery Promotions Unit are also working together to increase public awareness of Lottery funding.

National Lottery

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason lottery funding is denied to specific geographic areas in the UK on the grounds of perceived affluence.

Estelle Morris: Lottery funding is not denied to specific geographic areas in the UK on the grounds of perceived affluence. Policy directions issued to distributors by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport require them to take into account the need to ensure that all parts of England have access to lottery funding". There is extremely strong competition for lottery funding and some distributors' awards give priority to areas or people who are at risk of social exclusion.

Overseas Visitors

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many overseas visitors to the UK there were in each quarter of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: According to data published by the Office for National Statistics, the number of visits to the UK by overseas residents in each quarter of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			  Total (Thousand) 
		
		
			 2000  
			 Q1 4,993 
			 Q2 6,733 
			 Q3 7,943 
			 Q4 5,540 
			   
			 2001  
			 Q1 4,863 
			 Q2 6,279 
			 Q3 7,100 
			 Q4 4,593 
			   
			 2002  
			 Q1 4,525 
			 Q2 6,375 
			 Q3 7,555 
			 Q4 5,724 
			   
			 2003  
			 Q1 4,944 
			 Q2 6,073 
			 Q3 7,534 
			 Q4 6,165 
			   
			 2004  
			 Q1 5,495 
			 Q2 7,014 
			 Q3 8,433 
			 Q4 6,600

Playing Fields (Bridgwater)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many playing fields that were in use in 1997 in the Bridgwater constituency are no longer used for that purpose.

Richard Caborn: According to information provided by Sedgemoor district council, the following playing fields that were in use in Bridgwater in 1997 are no longer in use today—none of which have been sold for development:
	
		
			 Pitches Lost Location Reasons 
		
		
			 2 football pitches Bath Road Sold to Bridgwater college. The land is being used to create an artificial turf pitch and other field sport use. 
			 1 football pitch Victoria Park Lack of use. One pitch was re-orientated to improve the quality of the remaining pitch. The land accommodating the second pitch reverted back to informal recreational open space within the park. 
			 3 football pitches Bristol Road Lack of use. Pitches were also of poor quality and were prone to frequent flooding.

Public Buildings

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the ministerial group on better public buildings last met; what assessment she has made of the work of the group; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Since its launch in October 2000 the Better Public Buildings initiative has achieved much by better embedding design quality at the heart of Government construction programmes. Most Government Departments have produced action plans which outline their commitment to architectural design standards. The Ministerial Design Champions Group last met on 20 January 2003 at HM Treasury. The Ministerial Group is supported by a group of senior officials from all relevant Departments and the officials group last met in March 2004.
	Officials and Ministers are considering new proposals for the future structure of the Better Public Buildings initiative.

Sports Clubs (Bridgwater)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many amateur sports clubs there are in the Bridgwater constituency.

Richard Caborn: The DCMS does not hold the information requested. The hon. Member may wish to direct his query to the local authority for Bridgwater.

Sports Facilities

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Government funding is available towards the building of (a) full all-weather pitches, (b) running tracks and (c) sports stadiums for football and rugby.

Richard Caborn: By 2006, Government will have committed over £1 billion to developing new or refurbished public sports facilities. This funding is being channelled through New Opportunities for PE and Sport, the Community Club Development Programme, Space for Sport and the Arts, Active England and the Football Foundation.
	Building Schools for the Future will also invest £5.1 billion in new school facilities, including open and accessible multi-sport and physical activity facilities.
	The national governing bodies for Rugby and Football and the Football Foundation provide advice on the funding available to build new football or rugby stadia.

Television Licences

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters Television Licensing have issued in each of the last 10 years threatening legal proceedings; how many of these have led to prosecutions; and how many prosecutions have been successful.

Estelle Morris: The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day-to-day administration under contract to the Corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to write to the hon. Member direct, placing a copy of the letter in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Based on the currently available information, the number of people in England, Scotland and Wales 1 proceeded against for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 2 in each of the last 10 years was:
	1 Figures for Northern Ireland are not available.
	2 On the principal offence basis.
	
		
			  Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 1993 205,661 179,253 
			 1994 195,644 169,681 
			 1995 137,818 120,482 
			 1996 193,899 170,500 
			 1997 95,730 79,898 
			 1998 98,044 77,982 
			 1999 69,395 (76)56,402 
			 2000 123,153 (77)107,702 
			 2001 97,877 85,098 
			 2002 111,671 976,061 
			 2003 110,170 (78)95,596 
		
	
	(76) Scottish figures based on incomplete data
	(77) Some figures based on a sample of data covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on the sample are included and considered sufficiently robust.
	(78) 2003 figures for Scotland are not available.

Television Licences

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in Leicester, South are receiving a free television licence for over-75s.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agent for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Leicester, South constituency in 2003–04 was 4,660, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

Television Licences

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency (a) are entitled to free television licences and (b) have claimed free television licences.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agent for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Wallasey constituency in 2003–04 was 5,445, according to Department for Work and Pensions records. Winter fuel payment data at ward level relate to census wards rather than electoral wards and consequently do not correspond precisely to constituency boundaries.

Visitor Attractions

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to visitor attractions in England.

Richard Caborn: DCMS provides a range of support. For example, visitor attractions benefit from VisitBritain's overseas and domestic marketing effort, to which DCMS contributed £45.9 million in 2003–04. Many attractions benefit from grant in aid to museums, galleries, the heritage sector and RDAs. In addition, DCMS works closely with this sector to support improvements in productivity, particularly through initiatives aimed at raising skills and quality levels as well as the standard of data.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Animal Experiments

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives are available for the researching of alternatives to experimental testing on animals.

Patricia Hewitt: The Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences fund the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NCSRs). NCSRs has made £500,000 available for research on all 3Rs in the 2005–06 period.

Business Rates

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on its business rates proposals in relation to green generation of electricity.

Mike O'Brien: I have discussed this matter with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local and Regional Government (ODPM) (Mr. Raynsford). My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) also wrote to the Minister for Local and Regional Government on the issue. There have also been a number of discussions at official level between our respective Departments and the renewables industry.

Departmental Buildings

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) capital and (b) running costs of providing supplementary heating was in her Department's buildings in London in each of the last three years.

Patricia Hewitt: Over the last three years the Department has purchased a small number of stand-alone radiators at a total cost of £1,700 for emergency use only.
	The running costs cannot be identified as use of each unit is not individually logged or metered.

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the ministerial design champion for her Department is.

Patricia Hewitt: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation leads on design for the Department.

ECGD (Anti-corruption Procedures)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2004, Official Report, column 1242W, on the Export Credits Guarantee Department, if she will place in the Library the Government's written responses to the written and verbal representations made by (a) Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) customers and (b) organisations representing ECGD's customers in respect of ECGD's anti-bribery and corruption procedures.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 24 January 2005
	Documents relating to discussions between ECGD, the CBI and industry on the Department's new anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced on 1 May 2004 and the revised procedures that came into force have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the ECGD website (www.ecgd.gov.uk/_)
	ECGD will shortly be launching a public consultation on these procedures.

ECGD (Anti-corruption Procedures)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what representations were made by BAES, Rolls-Royce and Airbus to the Export Credit Guarantees Department about its anti-corruption procedures; and if she will place written submissions in the Library;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library representations made by (a) BAES, (b) Rolls-Royce and (c) Airbus at meetings held with her Department since January to discuss the anti-corruption procedures brought into force by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1 May;
	(3)  if she will place in the Library minutes from the meetings since January in which (a) her officials and (b) Export Credits Guarantee Department staff have met organisations to discuss anti-corruption procedures brought in by the Export Credits Guarantee Department;
	(4)  which companies have made representations to her Department regarding the anti-corruption procedures brought into force by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on 1 May; and if she will place these representations in the Library.

Douglas Alexander: Documents relating to discussions between ECGD, the CBI and industry on the Department's new anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced on 1 May 2004 and the revised procedures that came into force have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the ECGD web site (www.ecgd.gov.uk/_)
	ECGD will shortly be launching a public consultation on these procedures.

ECGD (Anti-corruption Procedures)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a copy of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's anti-bribery and corruption provisions that applied to Airbus prior to 1 May.

Douglas Alexander: Copies of ECGD anti-bribery and corruption procedures that applied to all companies prior to 1 May 2004 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the likely costs to local authorities of complying with the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Mike O'Brien: Local authorities have no specific obligations under the EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) although their established role in relation to domestic waste collection means they will inevitably be involved. Under current proposals, local authorities will have the opportunity to register civic amenity sites for free collection and recycling of separately collected WEEE by producers.

Non-domestic Rates

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has carried out analysis of the impact of the non-domestic property rating system on the development of a competitive telecommunications market.

Mike O'Brien: In response to recommendations made by the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) the Department appointed a contractor to carry out an independent review of the rating system as it applies to telecommunications. The BSG published an interim status report on their website in December 2004.

Nuclear Industry

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy on state aid case C 39/2004 (ex N613/2003), 2004/C 315/05 of OJ C315 volume 47 of 21 December 2004, on public financing of nuclear decontamination; what representations she has received from the nuclear industry; what representations she has made on the issue to the European Commission; and what impact the case will have on the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Mike O'Brien: We notified the European Commission of our intention to support the creation of the NDA in December 2003. The Commission announced a formal investigation into state aid to the NDA on 1 December 2004. This announcement confirmed that the transitional arrangements under which the NDA will start work on 1 April 2005 do not involve state aid. We are working closely with the Commission and formally responded to them on 31 January 2005. We will make further responses to the Commission as required. We are in ongoing consultation with BNFL.

Oil and Gas Exploration

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences have been issued for oil and gas exploration in UK territorial waters off the coast of Northern Ireland.

Mike O'Brien: Since offshore licensing began in the 1960s, three production licences (which cover exploration activity) have been issued over acreage in quadrants 111, 124, 125 or 126, which lie just off Northern Ireland.
	
		
			 Licence number Blocks covered Issued Surrendered Operator 
		
		
			 P869 111/03, 111/04, 111/08 1993 1999 BG International Limited 
			 P870 111/10, 111/15 1993 1997 BG International Limited 
			 P871 111/25, 111/29, 111/30 1993 1997 Elf Exploration UK plc

Parliamentary Questions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will answer the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Gordon, with reference numbers (a) 206155, tabled on 21 December 2004, (b) 206131, tabled on 20 December 2004, (c) 202945, tabled on 6 December 2004, (d) 203088, tabled on 6 December 2004, (e) 201181, tabled on 30 November 2004, (f) 201178, tabled on 30 November 2004, (g) 200600, tabled on 29 November 2004 and (h) 200601, tabled on 29 November 2004.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 31 January 2005
	I answered question 206155 on 13 January 2005, 206131 and 202945 on 3 February 2005 and I am answering the remaining questions today.

Wind Turbines

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department (a) has commissioned and (b) plans to commission on (i) impulsive noise and noise modulation effects arising from groups of wind turbines and (ii) general noise from wind turbines.

Mike O'Brien: There are four main studies on the impact of noise from wind turbines that have been commissioned and examined by my Department. These are:
	The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms, published 1996,
	Noise emission from wind turbines, published 1999,
	Aerodynamic noise reduction for variable speed turbines, published 2000, and
	Assessment of the Effects of Noise and Vibration from Offshore Wind Farms on Marine Wildlife, published 2001.
	Two other studies that have been commissioned and are both due to report in Spring 2005 are:
	Study into the Effects of Wind Farms on the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array (Joint study with MOD and BWEA), and
	The measurement and assessment of low frequency noise from three UK wind farms.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces (Commonwealth Personnel)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces from Commonwealth countries have requested British nationality in the last six months; in which branches and units of each service they were serving; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Applications for British citizenship are a matter for individual service personnel to apply direct to the Home Office. Although some applications are brought to the Department's attention, the armed forces have no firm knowledge of the numbers of personnel of Commonwealth origin who have applied to the Home Office for British nationality, as this is a personal matter.

Armed Forces Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what housing standards are applied in the management of current and former Ministry of Defence housing provided for members of the armed forces.

Ivor Caplin: Joint Services Publications (JSP) 315 is the Services Accommodation Code, which lays down the general housing standards, set by the Ministry of Defence (with the agreement of HM Treasury) for the provision of accommodation for the armed forces. Within this publication, scale 21 relates to the standards for Service Families Accommodation for officers and scale 22 relates to standards for other ranks.

BAE Warton

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for servicing of aircraft at BAE Warton.

Adam Ingram: At present nine Harrier aircraft are being modified at Warton together with 10 Typhoon aircraft which are undergoing routine operational maintenance under the terms of the initial support contract. All of this work will be completed by the end of 2005. Currently, no further aircraft are scheduled for servicing at the Warton site.

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who the ministerial design champion for his Department is.

Ivor Caplin: I am the Department's ministerial design champion.

Falklands Anniversary

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict; and whether he has set up a group to organise a veterans' visit.

Ivor Caplin: Ministry of Defence officials have been considering how best to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict in 2007 for some time, in consultation with the South Atlantic Medal Association (82). A number of proposals are being considered but no group has yet been established to develop plans for veterans' visits.

Fire Control and Retargeting Systems

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the functions of the Mk98 Mod 5 Fire Control System and the SLBM Retargeting System; when this assessment was last (a) reviewed and (b) changed; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the total cost of acquiring the (a) hardware and (b) software for (i) the Mk98 Mod 5 Fire Control System and (ii) modifications to the Trident system under the SLBM Retargeting System; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the date of entry into service of the Mk98 Mod 5 Fire Control System for Trident; when this assessment was last (a) reviewed and (b) changed; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Mk98 Fire Control System draws together all the information needed to calculate the flight data required by a Trident missile prior to launch. The Mk98 Mod 2 Fire Control System was installed on the Vanguard class of submarines at build. The Mk98 Mod 5 programme was undertaken to update hardware to overcome obsolescence and is now complete. Initial Operating Capability was achieved in September 2002 and all SSBNs had been modified by February 2003. The update programme, for hardware only, cost $39.810 million (including the costs of fitting) and $6.987 million for initial spares.
	Information on the costs of the related software modifications is not held separately from that relating to other software costs in this area. All aspects of deterrent capability are kept under continuous review. The United Kingdom has no requirement for a SLBM Retargeting System on Trident submarines, and has no plans to acquire that capability.

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is in respect of the publication (a) on the departmental website and (b) by placing copies in the Library of (i) all or (ii) only a selection of the information disclosed in response to freedom of information requests since January.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 10 February 2005
	The Ministry of Defence website hosts the MOD Publication Scheme (as required by s.19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000). Since early January 2005, the website has also included a FOI Reading Room". This was specifically set up to publish information released in response to requests which is considered to be of wider public interest. We are keeping the Reading Room under review with the possibility of adding new Classes of Information to the Publication Scheme if appropriate. We do not plan to publish all information released in response to requests because some is not of general interest.
	Information on the website will be available to the Library of the House, and there seems no advantage, and potentially significant cost, in supplying hard copies. We therefore have no plans to do so.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been treated at the Ministry of Defence hospital in Gibraltar in each of the last five years.

Ivor Caplin: The numbers of attendances at the Ministry of Defence hospital in Gibraltar (the Royal Naval Hospital) in the last three years have been:
	
		Attendances at the Ministry of Defence hospital in Gibraltar
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2004 7,301 
			 2003 7,261 
			 2002 6,103 
		
	
	Statistics are not readily available for the previous two years and collecting them would incur disproportionate cost.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the Gibraltar Government on joint administration of the Gibraltar hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has not held any formal discussions with the Government of Gibraltar on joint administration of the Gibraltar hospital.

Gulf War-related Illnesses

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2004, Official Report, column 354, on Gulf War-related illnesses, if he will provide further details on the funding for the research programme on Gulf veterans' illnesses; which institutions are undertaking the research; and how the funding to carry out the research will be allotted.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence receives independent advice on its programme of research into whether the health of Gulf veterans has been adversely affected by their service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict from the Medical Research Council (MRC). We will consider funding any proposal for research which has been formally considered and approved by the MRC.
	Studies which we have already funded (in whole or part) are:
	
		
			 Study Institution 
		
		
			 Epidemiological study of Mortality/Morbidity University of Manchester 
			 Epidemiological study of Reproductive Health London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 
			 Vaccines Interactions Research Programme Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (with independent academic support) and National Institute for Biological Standards and Control 
			 Systematic literature review of research University of Wales/University of Bristol 
			 Neuromuscular symptoms in Gulf veterans Kings College 
			 Testing for Squalene in vaccines Independent Laboratory 
			 Paraoxonase work Manchester Royal Infirmary and Kings College 
			 Anthropological study into Gulf War Syndrome" PhD student at University College London 
			 Longitudinal study of changing health in Gulf veterans Kings College 
			 Cancer Study University of Manchester 
		
	
	We have also co-operated with epidemiological and clinical studies of UK veterans sponsored by the US Department of Defense and conducted by Kings College. Moreover, a number of research papers on the health of those veterans attending the Gulf veterans' Medical Assessment Programme have been published. In addition, further research into Gulf veterans' illnesses recommended by MRC following their review of the subject in 2003 is in various stages of progression.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obstacles have been encountered in training and equipping British soldiers in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We have identified and responded to a number of lessons with regard to training and equipping of British Soldiers in Iraq. These are detailed in our comprehensive report 'Operations in Iraq—Lessons for the Future', which is available in the Library of the House.

Iraq

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Pentagon about the cause of the Hercules crash in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: The investigation team has spoken to in-theatre personnel, including US military personnel as appropriate, in order to help them ascertain the cause of the crash.

Ministerial Travel

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list overseas trips he and his departmental Ministers have made on official business or using official transport, since 1997, broken down by date.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 31 January 2005
	Since 1999, the Government publishes, on an annual basis, the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. Copies of the lists are available in the Library of the House
	All ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Ministerial Visits

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 376W, on ministerial visits, whether on any occasion the flight returned to the United Kingdom with unused passenger capacity.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1631W. On the June 2004 return military flight from Basra to the United Kingdom all vacant seats on the aircraft were made available to Ministry of Defence personnel.

MRSA

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of MRSA have been recorded in Ministry of Defence hospitals since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The majority of secondary care for armed forces personnel is now provided at Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) which are based within NHS Trust hospitals around the UK. MRSA numbers are now monitored by the Infection Control Teams of each NHS Trust under the direction of a Consultant Microbiologist, not the MOD. The Department therefore does not hold these records. Royal hospital Haslar is currently an exception to this.
	Since April 2001 it has been run in partnership with Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. The number of cases of MRSA at Royal hospital Haslar are only available from the year 2000. Due to reasons of medical confidentiality, numbers are not broken down below five.
	
		Royal hospital Haslar:
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 2000 (79)5 
			 2001 22 
			 2002 66 
			 2003 34 
			 2004 26 
			 2005 5 
		
	
	(79) Less than five cases.
	The Ministry of Defence currently has two military hospitals at its permanent overseas bases in Cyprus and Gibraltar. Records for these bases are only held for the last five years and less than five cases of MRSA have been recorded. Those cases recorded have been transferred in from other hospitals and no new cases of MRSA have been identified in either hospital in this period.

Nepal

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will withdraw the minute, dated 20 January, concerning the gifting of non-lethal military equipment to the Government of Nepal;

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will reconsider his decision to gift military equipment to Nepal in response to the actions by the King of Nepal since the departmental minute was tabled on 20 January.

Adam Ingram: In light of the recent events in Nepal, the Government have decided to withdraw the minute relating to the gift of military equipment pending a full review of our policy with regard to the provision of military assistance and equipment to Nepal. We are naturally extremely concerned about these events and we are currently consulting with our international partners on a co-ordinated response. I will write to my right hon. and hon. Friends when this review has developed.

New Aircraft Carrier

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the physical integrator for the new aircraft carrier project;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the ability of Kellogg Brown and Root to perform the role of physical integrator for the new aircraft carrier project.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Statement I made to the House on 8 February 2005, Official Report, columns 74–75WS, and my letter of 7 February 2005.

New Recruits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms his Department uses to promote the importance of physical fitness to new recruits in training.

Ivor Caplin: All potential applicants and new recruits are given pre-joining fitness booklets and/or shown videos which include information and advice on how to prepare for the pre-selection fitness test that they must pass.

Publicity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B) 2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08.

Ivor Caplin: Details of the Ministry of Defence's expenditure on advertising and publicity are included in the annual Departmental Performance Reports, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. For 1996–97 the information is shown on page 49, Cm 3781 and for 1997–98 the information is shown on page 49, Cm 4170.
	Expenditure on advertising, and advertising and publicity, is now included in figures for publicity and recruiting, and a detailed breakdown is not available. For 2003–04, costs of publicity and recruitment were £53.6 million. We have no estimate for publicity and recruitment expenditure for the current year; expenditure in future years has not yet been decided.

RAF Lossiemouth

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) RAF personnel and (b) civilian personnel were relocated each month from RAF Lossiemouth from September 2004 to February 2005, including where they were relocated to and what tasks they had previously been assigned to at RAF Lossiemouth; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: None.

Russia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the (a) technical and (b) tactical advances offered to the armed forces of Russia by the Bulava (SS-N-30) missile; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Bulava is reported to be a new solid propellant submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which has been under development in Russia for several years and has a reported maximum range of approx 8000km. When it enters service, probably in a new class of submarine, it will supplement and eventually replace older SLBMs, thus enabling Russia to maintain its sea-based strategic nuclear capability. Although not expected to provide Russia with a greater capability in terms of range, Bulava is likely to incorporate more modern materials and technology than currently deployed systems.

Russia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of (a) the Russian Kh-555 conventional missile and (b) what (i) technical and (ii) tactical advances this missile offers over the Kh-55 Granat missile; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Kh-555 is Russia's new conventionally armed air-launched cruise missile and is based on the Kh-55 nuclear-armed cruise missile that was developed during the cold war. Both missiles are expected to be carried by Tu-95 Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack bombers.
	The Kh-555 has been in development for a number of years. The nuclear warhead is replaced by a 500 kg class conventional warhead. These changes are likely to reduce the range of the Kh-555 to 2,500–3,000 km compared to the Kh-55 range of 3,000–3,500 km.
	When fully integrated into operational units, the Kh-555 will provide Russia with the ability to strike high-priority targets with precision from long ranges.

Russia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Russia's supersonic anti-ship cruise missile capabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Ministry of Defence maintains a continuous assessment of Russia's supersonic anti-ship missile capability. Russia has a credible supersonic anti-ship missile capability to engage surface warships at long range (greater than 100 km). A number of these systems are very old, as are the ships that carry them, and they are expected to be phased out over the next decade. New more capable systems are being developed.

Scottish Regiments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  where the Royal Regiment of Scotland will have its (a) headquarters and (b) museum;
	(2)  what plans he has for the current Scottish Regimental Headquarters and museums.

Ivor Caplin: The future location of the regimental headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Scotland is yet to be determined.
	There is likely to be a study on how the Scottish museums can best represent the antecedent regiments and the new regiment. It is too early to provide definitive advice on the future arrangements for these museums.

Sickness Absence

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff in the Department.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to taking forward the findings and delivery plan stemming from the joint Cabinet Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Health and Safety Executive initiative 'Managing Absence in the Public Sector'.
	We are undertaking a thorough review of our approach to managing absence and the requirement for occupational health advice. In the meantime, a new e-enabled sick absence reporting process is to be implemented from April 2005. As well as improving the accuracy of sick absence reporting, this reinforces the responsibilities for all involved in the absence process. We have robust procedures for the management of short-term absence to tackle poor attendance. A lifestyle screening programme is available to all civilian staff, which monitors major health risk factors and provides advice on how risks can be reduced.

Staff Identity Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: In the Ministry of Defence, all service personnel are issued with a service identity card, which is used to access all but the most sensitive areas. MOD civilians are not routinely issued with identity cards but are instead provided with a site-specific security pass. The present cost of producing either type of pass is approximately £4 per card. Information on how many passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, records are available for 2003 and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2004, Official Report, column 371W, to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten).

Suez Canal Zone Medal

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the application for a Suez Canal Zone Medal of Mr. Samuel Hill of Whitburn, West Lothian, referred to in the letter of 27 April 2004 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, reference 1670/04/A, will be processed.

Ivor Caplin: Mr. Hill's Service Records were received by the Canal Zone Section at the Army Medal Office this week and a check of his eligibility for the medal carried out. I can confirm that he qualified for the General Service Medal 1918–62 with the clasp Canal Zone and arrangements have been made to have his Service details engraved on a new medal which will be despatched to him shortly.

Trident

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects the UK to make a decision on a replacement for the Trident nuclear weapons system in the next Parliament.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 20 January 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 3.11 of the 2003 Defence White Paper (Cm 6041-I).

Trident

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost per year of maintenance for one Trident nuclear submarine has been since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The data required to answer the question is not held centrally or in a standard format and it will take time to prepare a substantive response. I will therefore write to the hon. Member in due course and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clergy (Employment Rights)

Huw Edwards: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what progress is being made in granting employment rights to clergy.

Stuart Bell: Last Tuesday the General Synod debated the group's second report and welcomed the recommendation that employment rights under section 23 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 be granted to all clergy. The report was commended to the wider Church for comment and an implementation group will be set up to bring forward legislation.

Hunting Act

Paul Flynn: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what action the Church Commissioners have taken to ensure that their tenants comply with the Hunting Act 2004.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners expect their tenants to obey the law and would not condone any breach of the hunting ban. Any such breach would be a matter for the police.

York Minster

Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the commissioners have made of the cost of restoring the fabric and maintaining the structures of York Cathedral; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Bell: York Minster has recently identified the need for major repair work on the East Front. The Cathedrals Fabric Commission is involved in discussion with the Chapter and has encouraged it to look at all the options. Any estimates of costs would be a matter for the Chapter.
	I should add by way of the statement requested by my hon. Friend that in 2003 the Commissioners provided £2.5 million in grants to cathedrals and spent £3.8 million on cathedral clergy stipends. In the case of York Minster, it receives no other financial support from the Commissioners, whose grants are targeted on the least well resourced.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Bullying

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on steps taken by local education authorities to stop bullying in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Derek Twigg: There is much effective practice in preventing and addressing bullying in many LEAs around the country and the 'Make The Difference' conference programme has allowed this work to be shared and celebrated. The conferences offered LEAs as well as schools an opportunity to learn at first hand from the very successful. Many LEAs were represented at the nine regional conferences, either as speakers, workshop leaders or delegates, and evaluations tell us that attendees left feeling inspired and motivated.
	The Anti Bullying Alliance (ABA) has been funded to sustain the momentum created by those conferences and each of their regional leads is working with the LEAs in its region to promote best practice and develop innovative and practical approaches to tackle bullying at strategic level. Anti bullying work has a high profile within the Key Stage 3 behaviour and attendance (B and A) strand and within the primary behaviour and attendance pilot, and there are KS3 Behaviour and Attendance Consultants in every LEA working directly with schools to tackle a range of behaviour issues including bullying.
	Many LEAs provide guidance on anti bullying to their schools to supplement and localise the guidance issued by the DfES nationally, and advice to parents on what to do if they are worried their child is being bullied.
	We know that LEAs around the country are at various stages of addressing this agenda. A number are well advanced and have been successfully working in this area for a number of years and other LEAs have recently appointed dedicated anti bullying officers or are considering doing so, but some have yet to tackle the problem in a structured and systematic way. We will continue to work through the national strategies and the ABA to encourage these LEAs to move forward on this agenda.

Capita SIMS System

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the 2005 Pupil Level Annual School Census returns derived from Capita SIMS systems in schools.

Stephen Twigg: As we are still in the process of collecting the Annual School Census data, we have not yet made an assessment of the accuracy of any of the data derived from any of the management information systems available to schools.
	However, this process will start shortly and data derived from the Capita SIMS system will be subject to the same rigorous quality assessment as those from all other school management information systems.

Capita SIMS System

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many secondary schools have reported problems with Capita SIMS.net systems.

Stephen Twigg: We have received reports from around 500 schools (normally via their local education authority) regarding software issues from December 2004 to date. While this is higher than in the same period last year, we have been able to resolve the vast majority.
	We are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Capita to keep problems to a minimum.

Child Abuse

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her targets are for reduction in child abuse deaths over the next 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: The Government does not have specific targets to reduce the numbers of child abuse deaths. We do want all children to stay safe and to reduce the number of avoidable child deaths. That is why following the Laming Inquiry that reported on the terrible death of Victoria Climbie" we have introduced a major programme of action called Every Child Matters: Change for Children". This includes the introduction of: a duty on key local services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) to make sure that local agencies and services are doing this effectively; Local Screening Teams to investigate all unexpected child deaths; better sharing of information, with new systems for all local agencies to share concerns that they have about a particular child; and a new inspection framework. Agencies' involvement in LSCBs and the work of LSCBs themselves will be assessed regularly by the relevant inspectorates.
	We have provided £90 million in 2004–05 and 2005–06 as a Specific Formula Grant to support councils in improving their services to safeguard children.

Child Care Places

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the change has been in the number of child care places in North Durham since 2001.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information on child care places and nursery education places is shown in the tables.
	The available information on child care places for Durham local authority area is shown in Tables 1 and 2.
	
		Table 1: Number (80)(81) of registered child care places for children under eight years of age by type of care Durham local authority area—position at 31 March each year 2003 and 2004
		
			 Type of care 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Full day care 2,300 2,800 
			 Sessional day care 1,400 1,400 
			 Childminders 3,100 3,400 
			 Out of school day care 1,700 1,900 
			 Creche day care 500 500 
		
	
	(80) Rounded to the nearest 100 places.
	(81) Data Source: Ofsted
	
		Table 2: Number (82)(83) of day care places for children under eight years of age by type of provider Durham local authority area—position at 31 March each year 2001 to 2002
		
			 Type of provider 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Day nurseries 1,500 n/a 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools 2,200 n/a 
			 Childminders 3,900 n/a 
			 Out of school clubs 1,600 n/a 
			 Holiday schemes(84) 7,900 n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(82) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 places.
	(83) Data Source: Children's Day Care Facilities Survey.
	(84) From 1999, places were counted once for each school holiday. Before 1999, places were counted once each year.
	The figures for child care places for 2003 and 2004 are not directly comparable with the day care figures for 1997–2001. The figures for 2003 and 2004 were derived from the Ofsted database of registered child care providers. The figures for 1997–2001 were derived from the Children's Day Care Facilities Survey, which was discontinued in 2001. There are no figures for 2002.
	With the introduction of the National Day Care Standards and the transfer of responsibilities for registration and inspection of child care providers from local authority Social Service Departments to Ofsted in September 2001, childcare places were classified according to the type of day care provided: full day care, sessional day care, childminder, out of school day care or creche day care. Ofsted have produced figures based on this classification on a quarterly basis from March 2003. Their latest figures were published on 19 January 2005 in their report Registered Childcare Providers and Places, 31 December 2004", which is available on their website, www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications.
	Up until March 2001, child care providers were classified according to the type of provider: day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs and holiday schemes. Figures based on this classification were published in a series of statistical bulletins, which are available from the Department's website, www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.
	The available information on nursery education places for Durham local authority area is shown in Table 3.
	
		Table 3: Number(85) of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds Durham local authority area—maintained schools and private, voluntary and independent providers of early years education
		
			 Position in January each year 2001–04 Number 
		
		
			 2001 (86)9,900 
			 2002 (86)10,200 
			 2003 (87)10,000 
			 2004 9,600 
		
	
	(85) Rounded to the nearest 100 places.
	(86) Sources:
	Annual schools census and nursery education grant data collection exercise
	(87) Annual schools census, nursery education grant data collection exercise and early years census.

Children Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Children Act 2004 amends the inspection regimes facing local government.

Margaret Hodge: To ensure a shared approach across inspection, the Children Act 2004 allows for the creation of a Framework for the inspection of Children's Services and for inspectorates to carry out joint area reviews (JARs) of all children's services provided in an area.
	The new inspection arrangements will capture how well services are delivered and how well they work together to improve children and young people's wellbeing. Through the common approach provided by the Framework, joint area reviews will provide a picture of what it is to be a child in the local authority area being reviewed. JARs will replace a number of existing separate inspections for children and young people at local authority level, including LEA inspections, Connexions service inspections and inspections of children's social care. Together, inspectorates will judge the way in which all services for education, health, social care and youth justice, both individually and collectively, contribute to improving outcomes.
	Ofsted, in partnership with other related inspectorates and commissions, are currently consulting on new arrangements for Children's Services inspection.

Children Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new responsibilities the Children Act 2004 places on local authorities.

Margaret Hodge: The Children Act 2004 places a number of new statutory duties on those persons and bodies responsible for children's services, including local authorities. These new duties will help improve outcomes for all children and young people, by maximising opportunity and minimising risk.
	The new duties are set out in enclosures 1 and 3 of 'Every Child Matters: Change for Children'. This can be downloaded from www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/_content/documents/Every%20Child%20Matinserts.pdf

Children in Care

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are in (a) children's homes and (b) foster care, broken down by ethnic group.

Margaret Hodge: The following table shows the number of children looked after at 31 March 2004 by placement and ethnicity.
	
		Children looked after at 31 March 2004 in a children's home or a foster placement by ethnicity1, 3, 4
		
			 Number 
			  Placement 
			 England All children Foster Children's homes(89) 
		
		
			 All children 61,100 41,600 7,000 
			 White 48,800 33,200 5,500 
			 Mixed 4,800 3.300 500 
			 Asian or Asian British 1,500 990 130 
			 Black or Black British 4,900 3.400 700 
			 Other ethnic groups 1,200 770 180 
		
	
	(88) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements.
	(89) Includes secure units, homes and hostels subject to children's homes regulations, and homes and hostels not subject to children's homes regulations, but excludes residential schools.
	(90) Figures taken from the SSDA903 return.
	(91) Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers), 2003–04.

Children's Fund Partnership

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of (a) the Redbridge Children's Fund partnership and (b) the Waltham Forest Children's Fund partnership submitting a budget and preventive plan to the regional team demonstrating how funding for 2005 to 2008 would be spent; whether the funding for this period has now been agreed; what main activities will be undertaken; what the likely funding will be; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Redbridge Children's Fund Partnership has had its plan, including its funding plan, approved for three years and will be drawing down a total of £1.7 millioin. This resource will support a number of local projects, including—for example—the Children's Participation Project run by the Redbridge council for Voluntary Services and the Youth Crime Prevention Team. The Partnership has yet to make firm decisions on the other services it will commission beyond July 2005.
	Waltham Forest.Children's Fund Partnership has had its plan approved for one year, and will be submitting an updated plan for 2006–08 later this year. Subject to this plan being satisfactory, it will be able to access funding totalling £2.5 million over the three year period 2005–08. This resource will support a number of local projects, including, for example:
	the 5–13 Early Intervention team;
	the Youth Inclusion and Support Panel;
	work with Somali families;
	work with young victims of crime and bullying.
	The partnership will be finalising the range of services it will support for 2005–06 and beyond between now and April.

Chorley High Schools

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils are attending Chorley high schools; and how many pupils attended each such school in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: The available information on pupils attending Chorley secondary schools is shown in the following table.
	
		Maintained secondary schools: number on roll—Chorley parliamentary constituency
		
			 Position in January each year 
			 School name 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 
		
		
			 Chorley Southlands high school 1,023 1,003 993 978 958 
			 Parklands high school 1,107 1,085 1,061 1,049 1,043 
			 Albany Science College 608 835 840 812 814 
			 Rivington and Blackrod high school 1,913 1.889 1,845 1,823 1,799 
			 Bishop Rawstome Church of England language college 925 926 926 889 867 
			 St. Michael's Church of England high school 1,111 1,100 1,090 1,056 1,045 
			 Holy Cross Catholic high school, a sports and science college 829 806 791 775 763 
			 Total all secondary schools 7,716 7,644 7,546 7,382 7,289 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures as reported by schools via the Annual Schools Census

Class Sizes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Greater London have been taught in classes of more than (a) 25 and (b) 30 in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

Stephen Twigg: The requested information has been placed in the House of Commons Libraries.

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter dated 29 July 2004 sent to her predecessor by the hon. Member for Brent, East regarding Ms Margaret Thomas.

Derek Twigg: The Department has no record of having received correspondence from the hon. Member regarding Ms Margaret Thomas. The Department's officials requested and received a copy of the correspondence on 8 February, and I expect to be able to reply by 1 March 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter dated 30 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Wright Robinson Sports College.

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to my right hon. Friend's letter of 30 December on 08 February.

Data Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what statistical data is collected from schools by (a) local education authorities and (b) her Department on a termly basis.

Stephen Twigg: The Department collects information on absent and excluded pupils on a termly basis from schools, via local education authorities.
	Until last autumn term 2004, the Department also invited a sample of head teachers, teachers, support staff and governors to provide attitudinal information as part of a termly stakeholder tracking survey, but future plans are to move to carrying this out twice a year.
	We have no comprehensive information about data collected by individual local education authorities.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of her Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Stephen Twigg: The Blackpool, South constituency lies within Blackpool local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents achievement for pupils attending schools in Blackpool, South are given in the following tables:
	
		Key stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Blackpool, South constituency
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 1997 2001 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Blackpool, South—English(92) 57 70 73 16 
			 Blackpool, South—Maths(92) 55 70 70 15 
			 National Average—English(93) 63 75 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(93) 61 71 74 13 
		
	
	(92) Pupils attending schools in Blackpool, South constituency.
	(93) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(94) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(95) attending schools in the Blackpool, South constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2001 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Blackpool, South—5+A*-C 30.4 34.0 31.9 1.5 
			 Blackpool, South—5+A*-G 79.1 83.6 86.7 7.6 
			 Blackpool, South—1+A*-G 88.5 92.5 96.6 8.1 
			 National average—5+A*-C 45.1 50.0 53.7 8.6 
			 National average—5+A*-G 87.0 88.9 88.8 1.8 
			 National average—1+A*-G 92.3 94.5 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(94) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(95) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged-15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas, are continuing to deliver better results,
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/lnyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Departmental Policies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Chorley constituency, the effect of her Department's actions and policies on Chorley since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Chorley constituency lies within Lancashire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents achievement for pupils attending schools in Chorley are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Chorley constituency—percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997/2004 
		
		
			 Chorley—English(96) 71 82 11 
			 Chorley—Maths(96) 73 78 5 
			 National Average—English(97) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(97) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(96) Pupils attending schools in Chorley constituency
	(97) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools)
	
		GCSE and equivalents(98) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(99) attending schools in the Chorley constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997/2004 
		
		
			 Chorley—5 + A*-C 53.7 60.9 7.2 
			 Chorley—5 + A*-G 91.6 90.5 -1.1 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
		
	
	(98) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(99) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas, are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Departmental Policies

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effects of her Department's policies since 2 May 1997 on the constituents of Ilford, North.

Stephen Twigg: The Ilford, North constituency lies within Redbridge local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Ilford, North are given in the following tables.
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Ilford, North constituency, 
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Ilford, North—English(100) 68 80 12 
			 Ilford, North—Maths 63 77 14 
			 National Average—English(100) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Mathst(101) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(100) Pupils attending schools in Ilford, North constituency.
	(101) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(102) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(103) attending schools in the Ilford, North constituency
		
			  Percentage of 15 year olds gaining19972004Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Ilford, North—5 + A*-C 48.5 62.6 14.1 
			 Ilford, North—5 + A*-G 88.1 93.1 8.0 
			 Ilford, North—1 + A*-G 96.0 97.5 1.5 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 National Average—1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(102) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(103) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maidenhead constituency, the effects on Maidenhead of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Maidenhead constituency lies within Windsor and Maidenhead local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents achievement for pupils attending schools in Maidenhead are given in the following tables.
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Maidenhead constituency
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Maidenhead—English(104) 73 88 15 
			 Maidenhead—maths(104) 73 85 12 
			 National average—English(105) 63 78 15 
			 National average—maths(105) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(104) Pupils attending schools in Maidenhead constituency.
	(105) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(106) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(107) attending schools in the Maidenhead constituency.
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Maidenhead—5 + A*-C 58.3 60.1 1.8 
			 Maidenhead—5 + A*-G 95.6 93.9 -1.7 
			 National average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
		
	
	(106) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(107) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas, are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Pendle constituency, the effects on Pendle of her Department's policies and activities since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Pendle constituency lies within Lancashire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Pendle are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Pendle constituency
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above. 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Pendle—English(108) 61 75 14 
			 Pendle—Maths(108) 60 72 12 
			 National Average—English(109) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(109) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(108) Pupils attending schools in Pendle constituency.
	(109) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(110) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(111) attending schools in the Pendle constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Pendle—5 + A*-C 37.1 40.4 3.3 
			 Pendle—5 + A*-G 83.5 86.8 3.3 
			 Pendle—1 + A*-G 91.5 93.5 2.0 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 National Average—1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(110) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(111) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Departmental Policies

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Reading, West constituency, the effects on Reading, West of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Reading, West constituency lies within Reading local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalent achievement for pupils attending schools in Reading, West are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Reading, West constituency—Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Reading, West
			 English(112) 56 75 19 
			 Maths(112) 52 69 17 
			 
			 National Average
			 English(113) 63 78 15 
			 Maths(113) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(112) Pupils attending schools in Reading, West constituency.
	(113) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools)
	
		GCSE and equivalent achievement of 15-year-old pupils(114) attending schools in the Reading, West constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Reading West
			 5 + A*-C 37.4 44.5 7.1 
			 5 + A*-G 83.8 86.5 2.7 
			 1 + A*-G 90.0 93.7 3.7 
			 
			 National Average
			 5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(114) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(115) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 national strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas, are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided. The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including literacy and numeracy at age 11, literacy and numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, pupils with special educational needs, school initiatives, school workforce, school funding and resources, children's social services, early years, class sizes, post-16, higher education and adult education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about adult education, school funding, school initiatives, school performance, school workforce and post-16.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Tatton constituency, the effects on Tatton of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Tatton constituency lies within Cheshire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents achievement for pupils attending schools in Tatton are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Tatton constituency—Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997 to 2004 
		
		
			 Tatton—English(116) 73 85 12 
			 Tatton—Maths(116) 72 83 11 
			 National Average—English(117) 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths(117) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(116) Pupils attending schools in Tatton constituency
	(117) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools)
	
		GCSE and equivalents(118) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(119) attending schools in the Tatton constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997 to 2004 
		
		
			 Tatton—5 + A*-C 50.2 59.6 9.4 
			 Tatton—5 + A*-G 89.0 91.5 2.5 
			 Tatton—1 + A*-G 93.9 95.7 1.8 
			 National Average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National Average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 National Average—1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(118) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(119) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The primary and key stage 3 national strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas, are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Departmental Policies

Brian Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Witney constituency, the effects on Witney of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The Witney constituency lies within Oxfordshire local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents achievement for pupils attending schools in Witney are given in the following tables.
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Witney constituency.
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Witney—English(120) 71 80 9 
			 Witney—maths(120) 66 79 13 
			 National average—English(121) 63 78 15 
			 National average—maths(121) 61 74 13 
		
	
	(120) Pupils attending schools in Witney constituency.
	(121) The average for all schools in England (including independent schools).
	
		GCSE and equivalents(122) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(123) attending schools in the Witney constituency.
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 
			  1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Witney—5 + A*-C 53.3 60.3 7.0 
			 Witney—5 + A*-G 91.9 93.6 1.7 
			 National average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
		
	
	(122) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(123) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The primary and key stage 3 national strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas, are continuing to deliver better results.
	Further information by constituency is provided within the Department's In Your Area" website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and cover five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE / GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post-16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area" website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post-16.

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who the ministerial design champion for her Department is.

Stephen Twigg: I have responsibility for school buildings and as part of that brief I am the design champion for the Department for Education and Skills.

Education Funding

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much capital funding has been invested in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Dudley, North in each year since 1996–97; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Capital funding allocated to Dudley local education authority and to schools in each year since 1996–97 is detailed in the following table. Information is not held centrally on investment in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Dudley, North. Investment in primary schools and secondary schools is determined by the local authority in accordance with its asset management plan.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 2,972 
			 1997–98 1,206 
			 1998–99 36,108 
			 1999–2000 6,764 
			 2000–01 11,100 
			 2001–02 33,425 
			 2002–03 12,371 
			 2003–04 13,415 
			 2004–05 15,703 
		
	
	Note:
	The years 1998–99 and 2001–02 include Private Finance Initiative allocations of £29,550,000 and £22,000,000 respectively.

Education Funding

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council to institutions in each region of England in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and how much will be allocated to each region in 2005–06.

Kim Howells: The information on recurrent funding for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 academic years is shown in the table. Funding for 2005–06 has not yet been allocated. This will be announced by the Funding Council in March and finalised before the start of the academic year. The details will be published on the HEFCE website www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs.
	
		£
		
			 Region 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Eastern 331,955,091 346,910,892 
			 East Midlands 374,804,576 395,594,592 
			 London 1,089,681,410 1,151,336,052 
			 North East 255,911,200 274,637,443 
			 North West 580,977,274 614,173,467 
			 South East 761,680,303 802,284,781 
			 South West 356,913,892 384,473,659 
			 West Midlands 397,899,016 419,512,542 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 490,045,241 519,620,441 
		
	
	Source:
	HEFCE recurrent grants final allocations 2003–04 and 2004–05. Higher education institutions may also receive funding for capital and for special initiatives from HEFCE.

Education Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding from the New Deal for Schools has passed to schools in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and if she will list the schools which received funding.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Education Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much central government education funding was allocated on average to each (a) three to 10-year-old and (b) 11 to 15-year-old in Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: Total funding includes funding via Education Formula Spending/Standard Spending Assessment and grants allocated at an LEA level. It excludes the pensions transfer to EPS and the Learning and Skills Council, and is in real terms. Education Formula Spending is part of the wider local government finance system and is supported by council tax as well as central government grant. The following table shows the per pupil figures for Lancashire.
	
		Average funding per pupil (£)—Lancashire
		
			  Real terms, excluding pensions transfer to EPS and LSC in 2003–04 and 2004–05 
			  Primary (3 to 10-year-olds) Secondary (11 to 15-year-olds) 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,240 3,120 
			 1998–99 2,350 3,170 
			 1999–2000 2,510 3,290 
			 2000–01 2,750 3,560 
			 2001–02 2,900 3,710 
			 2002–03 2,950 3,790 
			 2003–04 3,100 3,810 
			 2004–05 3,220 4,010 
		
	
	Notes:
	Price Base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004
	Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC.
	Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Status: 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Education Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on teaching of (a) science, (b) history, (c) mathematics, (d) religious education and (e) physical education in Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: My Department does not collect this information.

Ethnic Minorities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the extent to which her Department's policies are meeting the needs of ethnic minorities.

Derek Twigg: My Department is fully committed to equality and diversity and to meeting our obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. We recognise that through evaluating our policies and processes thoroughly, we go a long way to achieving this.
	Like many public bodies, we have an obligation to publish a Race Equality Scheme every three years. This requires us to examine all our policies and functions to identify those that are most likely to impact adversely on black and minority ethnic people, prioritise their significance and develop action plans to address the problem. The Department updates its action plan within the scheme annually in the light of the latest evidence.
	We are currently working on the Department's new scheme, to be published by the end of May 2005, in accordance with the statutory requirements. In doing so, each programme in the Department has assessed its functions and policies framed around the Department's five year strategy, for their contribution to race equality. A full Department-wide examination of our policies will continue to be made every three years and the results will be published and available on the Department's website.
	In addition the Department is committed to the process of Race Impact Assessment, an example of which can be seen in our published assessments within the higher education sector.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee on vocational training met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The EU Advisory Committee on Vocational Training (ACVT) met (a) once during the Italian presidency (26–27 November 2003), (b) once during the Irish presidency (23–24 June 2004), and (c) once during the Dutch presidency (25–26 November 2004). All of these meetings took place in Brussels. In each case an official from the DfES attended. Officials from the TUC and CBI represent the UK trade unions and employers. The ACVT is a tripartite committee of Government, employer and trade union representatives. It was set up by Council Decision 63/266/EEC dated 2 April 1963 which laid down general principles for implementing a common vocational training policy across the EU. This decision was superseded by Council Decision 2004/223/EC dated 26 February 2004 which laid down new rules to take account of enlargement of the EU. For further information, please refer to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the EU—Cm6174 (April 2004), Cm6310 (September 2004) and Cm6450 (February 2005), which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

Expenditure per Pupil

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much central Government funding was spent on average per child in England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: My Department does not collect information on overall Government funding spent on children. However, the funding per pupil in England in year 2004–05 was £4,020.
	Notes
	1. Price Base: Cash.
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education EPS settlements and include the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3 to 19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EPS settlement calculations.
	5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	6. Status: 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Expenditure per Pupil

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding central government provided per head for each East Devon pupil in 2003; and how much is provided per pupil for 2005.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is produced according to local authority areas rather than districts within an area. The total funding per pupil aged 3–19 in Devon was £3,530. Figures for 2005–06 are not yet available. This figure includes funding via Education Formula Spending/Standard Spending Assessment and Grants. It includes the pensions transfer and is in cash terms. Education Formula Spending is part of the wider local government finance system and is supported by council tax as well as central Government grant.
	Notes:
	1. Price Base: Cash
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education EFS settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3–19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.
	5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	6. Status: 2003–04 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Failing Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what criteria a school is judged to be a failing school.

Stephen Twigg: A school is judged to require special measures following an Ofsted inspection which concludes that it is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education for its pupils. The factors inspectors must consider in reaching a judgement that a school requires special measures are set out in the Ofsted Handbooks for Inspecting Schools" available on the Ofsted website.

Faith-based Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many private faith-based schools there were, broken down by faith, in each year between 1997 to 2004.

Stephen Twigg: The figures in the following table show the number of independent faith based schools there were in each year from 1997 to 2003 based on schools inspection criteria.
	
		
			  Jewish Muslim Evangelical Christian 
		
		
			 1997 53 54 53 
			 1998 52 61 55 
			 1999 53 65 63 
			 2000 52 71 67 
			 2001 55 73 68 
			 2002 59 77 70 
			 2003 56 75 76 
		
	
	In 2004 we asked all independent schools for the first time to indicate their religious ethos, if any, and the results are given as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Buddhist 1 
			 Church of England 284 
			 Hindu 1 
			 Jewish (124)37 
			 Methodist 14 
			 Muslim 111 
			 Other Christian 355 
			 Roman Catholic 122 
			 Sikh 1 
		
	
	(124) We recognise 50 Jewish schools for inspection purposes

Free Nursery Places (Birmingham)

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Birmingham have benefited from free nursery places since the policy was introduced, broken down by constituency.

Margaret Hodge: All four-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since September 1998. All three-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since April 2004.
	The available information on the numbers of free part-time early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in Birmingham local education authority area and parliamentary constituencies within Birmingham since 1997 is shown in the tables.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 39/2004 Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2004 (final)", which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(125) taken up by three and four-year-old—Birmingham local education authority area—position in January each year
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools(126) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 3-year-olds Maintained nursery and primary schools(127) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 7,400 n/a 7,400 n/a n/a (128)12,500 
			 1998 7,500 n/a 7,500 n/a n/a (129)13,300 
			 1999 7,400 n/a 7,400 n/a n/a (128)14,200 
			 2000 7,300 (130)3,300 10,600 n/a n/a (128)14,000 
			 2001 7,200 (130)3,800 11,000 n/a n/a (129)14,000 
			 2002 6,800 (130)4,500 11,300 12,600 (129)1,500 14,000 
			 2003 6,700 (130)4,600 11,300 12,200 (131)1,600 13,800 
			 2004 6,700 (129)4,200 10,900 12,000 (131)1,600 13,600 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(125) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(126) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(127) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(128) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(129) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(130) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(131) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(132) taken up by three and four-year-olds by parliamentary constituency—Birmingham local education authority area—position in January 2004
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			 Constituency Maintained nursery and primary schools(133) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(134) Total 3-year-olds Maintained nursery and primary schools(135) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(136) Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 Birmingham, Edgbaston 310 620 940 670 330 1,000 
			 Birmingham, Erdington 630 380 1,000 1,000 160 1,200 
			 Birmingham, Hall Green 400 250 640 760 90 850 
			 Birmingham, Hodge Hill 680 220 900 1,200 70 1,200 
			 Birmingham, Ladywood 1,300 450 1,700 1.800 140 2.000 
			 Birmingham, Northfield 420 350 770 850 110 960 
			 Birmingham, Perry Barr 640 300 930 1.100 100 1.200 
			 Birmingham, Selly Oak 460 330 780 830 100 930 
			 Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath 1,200 540 1,700 2,000 210 2,200 
			 Birmingham, Yardley 460 250 710 890 70 960 
			 Sutton Coldfield 270 490 760 870 180 1.000 
			 Birmingham (postcode unknown)(137) 0 50 50 0 (138)— (138)— 
			 Birmingham LEA total 6,700 4,200 10,900 12,000 1,600 13.600 
		
	
	(132) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(133) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(134) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(135) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(136) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(137) Matching providers to constituencies makes use of the provider postcode as returned in the Early Years Census data collection exercise.
	(138) Negligible.

Further Education

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding gap is between school sixth forms and further education colleges in the London North Learning and Skills Council area; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Department does not have information on what the funding gap is between school sixth forms and further education colleges in the London North Learning and Skills Council area specifically.
	However, the main measure the Department has used to identify the funding gap is the difference in Learning and Skills Council (LSC) national funding rates for an AS/A2 qualification.
	In 2002/03 the difference between the AS/A2 base rates was 10.5 per cent. Increased funding to support our Success for All strategy enabled the LSC to deliver a 4.5 per cent. increase in funding rates in 2003/04 for all colleges that agreed development plans. In the same year school sixth form funding rates increased by 3 per cent.—resulting in a narrowing of the funding gap to 9 per cent.
	FE colleges that delivered against their plans receive a further 5 per cent. increase in funding rates for 2004/05 compared with a 4 per cent. increase for schools—a further narrowing of the gap to 8 per cent. We expect a similar step in funding rates in 2005/06 reducing the gap to 7 per cent.

Further Education

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to reduce the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges in the London North Learning and Skills Council area.

Stephen Twigg: Government recognise that there are differences in the funding allocated to further education colleges and school sixth forms nationally and has taken action to address this. For the academic year 2003/04, base funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. In 2004/05, funding rates for colleges meeting their targets increased by 5 per cent., while those for school sixth forms rose by 4 per cent. This trend will continue in the 2005/06 academic year.

GCSE Results (North Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the GCSE results were for students in North Durham in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The table shows the results of 15-year-old pupils in GCSE and equivalent examinations for North Durham in 1997,2001 and 2004:
	
		Percentage
		
			 Percentage achieving: 1997 2001 2004 
		
		
			 5 or more grades A*-C 34.7 44.9 47.2 
			 5 or more grades A*-G 86.8 88.8 89.1 
			 Any passes 91.7 93.4 94.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	2. For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.

Increased Flexibility Programme

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the Increased Flexibility Programme.

Stephen Twigg: The Department engaged the National Foundation for Educational Research to evaluate the Increased Flexibility Programme. A number of evaluation reports have been published, including the report of the evaluation of the first year in February 2004 and the report of the evaluation of the second year in January 2005. The evaluations have covered the experience of implementation and the impact on:
	progress towards qualifications;
	social skills;
	employability skills;
	behaviour and attitudes;
	attendance;
	plans for progression;
	partnership working.
	A final report of the evaluation is due to be published in August 2005 and will include findings on achievements of young people in the first cohort, and their post-16 participation.

Independent Schools (Pre-registration)

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pre-registration independent schools which did not comply fully with regulations 2e and 2d on the first visit complied on the second visit; and how many were non-compliant with regulations 2e and 2d, broken down by faith.

Stephen Twigg: The following table gives the figures requested for those schools that have already had two inspections after the new regulations came into force.
	
		
			 Regulation number/visit Number of schools not meeting the Regulation Faith (if any) 
		
		
			 2(d)   
			 First 1 Christian Brethren 
			  2 Evangelical Christian 
			  16 Muslim 
			  7 None 
			  26 Total 
			
			 Second 0 Christian Brethren 
			  2 Evangelical Christian 
			  7 Muslim 
			  3 None 
			  12 Total 
			
			 2(e)   
			 First 2 Christian Brethren 
			  1 Evangelical Christian 
			  16 Muslim 
			  5 None 
			  24 Total 
			
			 Second 1 Christian Brethren 
			  1 Evangelical Christian 
			  9 Muslim 
			  3 None 
			  14 Total

International Students

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 1701W to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman), on international students, if she will list the organisations and individuals from which representations have been received.

Kim Howells: The following table shows details of the representations received by my Department as at 10 February 2005 on the proposed charges for visa extension applications made by international students.
	
		Representations to the Department for Education and Skills on Home Office proposals to increase charges for leave to remain applications as at 10 February 2005
		
			 Correspondent On behalf of: Organisation 
		
		
			 Edward Gamier MP Sir Marrack Goulding Warden, St. Antony's College, University of Oxford 
			 Professor Michael Stirling — Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham 
			 Signed cards from 132 students — Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria 
			 Chileya Kasuba and Emma Wodfield (accompanied by 231 signed cards from members of University of Portsmouth SU) — Student Support Officer and President, Portsmouth Students Union 
			 Baroness Diana Warwick — Chief Executive, Universities UK 
			 Wes Streeting — Chair, Aldwych Group and President, Cambridge University Students' Union 
			 John Randall MP Wes Streeting President, Cambridge University Students' Union 
			 Anne McIntosh MP Wes Streeting President, Cambridge University Students' Union 
			 Tim Boswell MP John Wrathmell Universities UK 
			 Tony Worthington MP Steve Cockburn President, Edinburgh University Students' Association 
			 David Chidgey MP Professor Bill Wakeham Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton 
			 Michael Martin MP Steve Cockburn President, Edinburgh University Students' Association 
			 Chris Grayling MP — Shadow Minister for Education 
			 David Rendel MP — Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Higher Education 
			 Gisela Stuart MP Moataz Attallah International student 
			 Dr Rudi Vis MP Mr. David Simons Principal, Golders Green College 
			 A F Richard — Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge 
			 Graham Allen MP — On behalf of Nottingham universities 
			 Dr. John Brennan — Chief Executive, Association of Colleges 
			 Professor Sir Andrew Haines — London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 
			 Professor John Craven — Vice Chancellor, University of Portsmouth 
			 Brian Lang — Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St. Andrews 
			 Professor Robert Pearce — Vice-Chancellor, University of Wales Lampeter 
			 Professor Graham Upton — Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University 
			 Professor Tim Wilson — Vice-Chancellor University of Hertfordshire 
			 Professor Wakeham — Vice-Chancellor University of Southampton 
			 Professor Gregson — Vice-Chancellor Queens University Belfast 
			 Professor Gordon Marshall — Vice Chancellor, University of Reading 
			 Professor Alan Pearman — Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds 
			 Eugene Critchlow — Academic Registrar, De Montfort University 
			 Melvyn Cornish — University Secretary, University of Edinburgh 
			 Professor David Tidmarsh — Vice Chancellor, Anglia Polytechnic University 
			 Professor Geoff Whitty — Director, Institute of Education, University of London 
			 Professor Joan K Stringer — Principal and Vice Chancellor Napier University 
			 Dr. David Grant — Director of Strategic Development, Cardiff University 
			 Professor Ray Cocks — Pro Vice-Chancellor, Keele University 
			 Sir Howard Davies — Director, LSE 
			 Dr. Ian Johnson — Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University 
			 Brian Summers — Registrar and Secretary, University of E. Anglia 
			 Professor Chris Taylor — Vice-Chancellor, University of Bradford 
			 Professor C Duncan Rice — Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Aberdeen 
			 Sir David Wallace — Vice-Chancellor, University of Loughborough 
			 Professor John S Brookes — Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton 
			 Professor Paul W Wellings — Vice-Chancellor, Lancaster University 
			 Alfred Morris — Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of England 
			 Sir Muir Russell — Principal, University of Glasgow 
			 Elizabeth Lister — Director, Recruitment and Admissions Service, Heriot-Watt University 
			 Professor Patrick Dowling — Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Surrey 
			 Professor J Drummond Bone — Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool 
			 Professor Stephen Hill — Principal, University of Holloway, London 
			 Professor Tim Wilson — Vice-Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire 
			 Professor Brenda Gourley — Vice-Chancellor, The Open University 
			 Professor William Stevely — Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the Robert Gordon University 
			 Dr. David J Halton — Vice-Chancellor, University of Glamorgan 
			 Sir David Watson — Vice-Chancellor, University of Brighton 
			 Professor Anthony P Cohen — Professor and Vice Patron, Queen Margaret University College 
			 Professor Adrian Smith — Principal, Queen Mary University of London 
			 Clare Short MP James Anthony University of Birmingham Guild of Students 
			 Nick Palmer MP Chris Weekes Vice Principal, Broxtowe College 
			 Jon Owen Jones MP Louise Casella Director of Strategic Development, Cardiff University 
			 Professor Robert G Burgess — Vice Chancellor, University of Leicester 
			 Professor ADR Dickson — Deputy Vice Chancellor, Northumbria University 
			 Kat Fletcher — National President, NUS 
			 Christabel Silva — National Chair, Council for International Students

Hillingdon LEA

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the members of the School Organising Committee for the London borough of Hillingdon local education authority.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold information on the members of Hillingdon or any other School Organisation Committee (SOC). SOCs are committees set up by, but independent of, the local authority. Regulations require that all SOCs are constituted with five groups with representatives drawn from the LEA, local school governors, the Roman Catholic Diocese, the Church of England Diocese and the local Learning and Skills Council. SOCs may also include an optional sixth group to represent other local community interests.

Looked-after Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of (a) looked-after children and (b) former looked-after children who received custodial sentences in each year between 1997 and 2004;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of (a) looked-after children and (b) former looked-after children who received custodial sentences in each year between 1997 and 2004.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested on sentencing is not collected centrally. However, the following tables show the numbers of looked-after children who were in a young offenders institution or prison at 31 March, and the number of 19-year-old former care leavers in custody on their 19th birthday.
	
		Children looked after at 31 March in a young offenders institution or prison
		
			 Number 
			  Year ending 31 March 
			 England 1997(140) 1998(141) 1999(141) 2000(141) 2001(142) 2002(142) 2003(142) 
		
		
			 Number of children looked after(139) 51,200 53,300 55,500 58,100 58,900 59,700 60,800 
			 Number of children looked after in a young offenders institution 150 170 180 170 150 120 100 
		
	
	(139) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.
	(140) Figures derived from the SSDA903 return.
	(141) Figures taken from the CLA100 return.
	(142) Figures derived from the CLA100 return and the SSDA903 return.
	Note:
	1. Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Children looked after by local authorities, year ending 31 March 2003.
	
		Former care leavers at age 19 who were looked after on 1 April aged 16 in custody, 2002–041, 6, 7
		
			 Number 
			  Year ending 31 March 
			 England 2002(144) 2003(145) 2004(146) 
		
		
			 All young people(147) 4,700 4,900 5,100 
			 In custody 110 120 120 
		
	
	(143) Figures exclude children who were looked after on 1 April aged 16 under an agreed series of short term placements
	(144) Looked after on 1 April 1999
	(145) Looked after on 1 April 2000.
	(146) Looked after on 1 April 2001.
	(147) Figures include former care leavers with whom the local authority is not in touch.
	(148) Figures taken from the OC3 return.
	(149) Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers), 2003–04.

Looked-after Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of cared-for children who become involved in prostitution.

Margaret Hodge: The data requested is not collected or held centrally.

Morecambe and Lunesdale (Funding)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much Government funding has been spent on education in Morecambe and Lunesdale in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas, rather than districts within an LEA. Morecambe and Lunesdale form part of Lancashire LEA. The information is contained within the following table.
	
		
			 Combined LEA and school based expenditure(150)(5507390151) Cash terms (£) 
		
		
			 1994–95 583,765,000 
			 1995–96 570,257,000 
			 1996–97 577,176,000 
			 1997–98(152) 586,427,000 
			 1998–99(153) 492,850,000 
			 1999–2000 508,395,000 
			 2000–01 532,819,000 
			 2001–02 588,951,000 
			 2002–03 595,937,000 
			 2003–04 703,296,000 
		
	
	(150) The combined LEA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LEA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LEA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LEA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA).
	2 Upto and including 1998–99 financial data are taken from Revenue Outturn spending returns submitted to the ODPM. From 1999–00 onwards financial data are taken from Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the Department for Education and Skills. 2003–04 data remains provisional and is subject to change by the LEA.
	(151) Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of moneys from local government to central government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998–99.
	(152) Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place on the 1 April 1998 where pre-LGR Lancashire LEA was split into Lancashire LEA, Blackburn with Darwin LEA and Blackpool LEA. As a result, up to 1997–98 data are for pre-LGR Lancashire LEA and from 1998–99 data are for post-LGR Lancashire LEA. This break in consistency is shown by the dotted line.
	Notes:
	1. Financial data are collected at local authority level and not constituency level and as such the figures provided are for Lancashire LEA.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as reported by Lancashire LEA at 14 February 2005.

Morecambe and Lunesdale (Funding)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on computers for schools in Morecambe and Lunesdale since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold information on funding for ICT at constituency level. However, Morecambe and Lunesdale is in Lancashire LEA and allocations for this authority since 1998 are detailed in Funding for ICT in Schools in England" which is available in the House Library.

Morecambe and Lunesdale (Funding)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what expenditure there has been on schools in Morecambe and Lunesdale since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: The following table shows capital resources allocated to Lancashire local education authority and its schools since 1997. Decisions on how resources should be invested in schools are taken by the local education authority in accordance with its locally prepared asset management plan. The information on how capital allocations are split between constituencies is not held centrally.
	
		
			  Lancashire 
		
		
			 1997–98 13,288 
			 1998–99 19,457 
			 1999–2000 23,407 
			 2000–01 42,200 
			 2001–02 36,021 
			 2002–03 55,453 
			 2003–04 62,607 
			 2004–05 44,234

Morecambe and Lunesdale (Funding)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many residents of Morecambe and Lunesdale have undertaken apprenticeships since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Figures for Morecambe and Lunesdale cannot be provided as information at parliamentary constituency level is not available. The following table shows the number of starts on Apprenticeships in (i) the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area between April 2001 and the end of July 2004; and (ii) in the Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) for the area LAWTEC (Lancashire West) between April 1997 and March 2001.
	
		
			 Time period (153) TEC/LSC Advanced apprenticeship Apprenticeship at level 2 
		
		
			 April 1997 to March 1998 LAWTEC 1,800 — 
			 April 1998 to March 1999 LAWTEC 1,600 100 
			 April 1999 to March 2000 LAWTEC 1,900 1,800 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 LAWTEC 1,800 2,100 
			 April 2001 to July 2002 Lancashire LSC 1,900 4,100 
			 August 2002 to July 2003 Lancashire LSC 1,700 3,600 
			 August 2003 to July 2004 Lancashire LSC 1,400 3,900 
		
	
	(153) TECs reported the figures in financial years. LSC reports figures in academic years. The first LSC 'year' was 16 months in order to bring the financial year figures into line with academic years.
	Source:
	TEC Management Information
	LSC Individualised Learner Record

Northumberland Education Authority

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per pupil funding allocation to the Northumberland education authority was in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The latest year for which figures are available is 2004–05. The following table sets out the total funding (in real terms) per 3–19 pupil for Northumberland for 1997–98, 2001–02 and 2004–05.
	
		
			  Total funding £ pp 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,720 
			 2001–02 3,330 
			 2004–05 3,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Price Base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004.
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3–19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	6. Status: 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Popular Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how a school's popularity will be determined in order to allocate additional money to popular state schools due to a rising enrolment demand; and what is expected to be the total cost of such additional funding.

Stephen Twigg: Guidance on the DfES website, titled Decision Makers Guidance Section 1, sets out a number of indicators to be considered when deciding whether a school should be classified as successful and popular. These include the school's performance, the numbers of applications for places, and any other relevant evidence prepared by schools.
	The cost of such additional funding is decided on a case by case basis.

Pupil Referral Units

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost of providing a pupil with education in a referral unit was in Lancashire in each year since 2000.

Derek Twigg: We do not hold the information requested, although we do hold planned net expenditure on Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) places in Lancashire.
	The number of pupils shown in the following table is for pupils attending PRUs who are not registered at a maintained mainstream or special school. This underestimates PRU activity, and therefore overestimates the unit cost, as it does not include the number of pupils attending a PRU, but registered in another school. The figures do not include cross-border pupils who live in Lancashire but attend a PRU in a bordering authority, for which Lancashire LEA pays. This payments included in the planned expenditure, but the number of pupils involved is not known.
	The average cost of a pupil attending a PRU in England is £10,000.
	
		
			  Planned net expenditure on PRUs (£) Pupils attending PRUs 
			  Lancashire England Lancashire England 
		
		
			 2000–01 4,054,057 100,309,321 70 9,019 
			 2001–02 4,245,559 108,466,872 131 9,734 
			 2002–03 9,761,772 134,740,764 149 11,322 
			 2003–04 9,948,486 177,444,103 297 12,694 
			 2004–05 10,219,390 198,460,713 n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a= denotes figures not available.
	Note:
	1. The planned net expenditure on PRUs includes all planned expenditure on the provision of education at PRUs as defined in section 19 of the 1996 Act. Figures for 2001–02 onwards include all School Standards Grant income and expenditure in relation to PRUs.

Pupil Referral Units

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what training is required for a teacher to teach in a pupil referral unit; what the cost of the training is; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Teachers in pupil referral units are the same as any other teachers and therefore receive the same initial teacher training as teachers in other schools.
	There are a number of different routes into teaching. According to research, undertaken by JM Consulting Ltd. for my Department, the average annual cost of initial teacher training per full-time equivalent student was £5,973 in 2002/03. The research was based on a review of the costs of initial teacher training at 15 higher education institutions chosen to represent a broad range of types of institution and types of provision (primary, secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate).

Pupil Referral Units

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers are teaching in pupil referral units in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local education authority; and how many have received specific training to teach in such units.

Stephen Twigg: The following table shows the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in pupil referral units for each Government Office region and local education authority in January 2004, the latest information available.
	All teachers with qualified teacher status are trained to teach in pupil referral units.
	
		Full-time equivalent regular teachers in pupil referral units
		
			  Regular qualified teachers Total regular teachers 
		
		
			 Darlington (154)— (154)— 
			 Hartlepool 10 10 
			 Middlesbrough 0 0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 10 20 
			 Stockton on Tees 10 20 
			 Durham 20 20 
			 Northumberland 10 10 
			 Gateshead 20 20 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 10 10 
			 North Tyneside 10 10 
			 South Tyneside 30 30 
			 Sunderland 20 20 
			 North East 140 160 
			
			 Blackburn with Darwen 20 20 
			 Blackpool 10 10 
			 Halton 0 0 
			 Warrington 10 10 
			 Cheshire 0 0 
			 Cumbria 20 20 
			 Bolton (154)— (154)— 
			 Bury 20 20 
			 Manchester 10 10 
			 Oldham 0 0 
			 Rochdale 30 30 
			 Salford 30 30 
			 Stockport 30 30 
			 Tameside 20 20 
			 Trafford 0 0 
			 Wigan 10 10 
			 Lancashire 60 60 
			 Knowsley 10 10 
			 Liverpool 30 30 
			 St Helens 10 10 
			 Sefton 20 20 
			 Wirral 10 20 
			 North West 360 370 
			
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 10 10 
			 City of Kingston Upon Hull 30 40 
			 North East Lincolnshire 20 20 
			 North Lincolnshire 10 10 
			 York 10 10 
			 North Yorkshire 20 20 
			 Barnsley 0 0 
			 Doncaster 20 20 
			 Rotherham (154)— (154)— 
			 Sheffield 0 0 
			 Bradford 30 30 
			 Calderdale 0 0 
			 Kirklees 10 10 
			 Leeds 20 20 
			 Wakefield 20 20 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 220 230 
			
			 Derby 30 30 
			 Leicester 20 20 
			 Nottingham 30 30 
			 Rutland 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 60 60 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 10 10 
			 Northamptonshire 20 30 
			 Nottinghamshire 50 50 
			 East Midlands 220 220 
			
			 Herefordshire 10 10 
			 Stoke on Trent 10 10 
			 Telford and Wrekin 10 10 
			 Shropshire 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 20 20 
			 Warwickshire 60 60 
			 Birmingham 130 130 
			 Coventry 0 0 
			 Dudley 10 10 
			 Sandwell 30 30 
			 Solihull (154)— (154)— 
			 Walsall 20 20 
			 Wolverhampton 40 40 
			 Worcestershire 50 50 
			 West Midlands 400 400 
			
			 Luton 10 10 
			 Peterborough 10 10 
			 Southend on Sea (154)— 10 
			 Thurrock 10 10 
			 Bedfordshire 20 20 
			 Cambridgeshire 40 80 
			 Essex 40 40 
			 Hertfordshire 70 70 
			 Norfolk 50 50 
			 Suffolk 40 40 
			 East of England 270 330 
			
			 Camden 10 20 
			 City of London 0 0 
			 Hackney 10 20 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 40 40 
			 Haringey 20 20 
			 Islington 20 30 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 20 20 
			 Lambeth 10 20 
			 Lewisham 30 30 
			 Newham 30 30 
			 Southwark 40 40 
			 Tower Hamlets 50 50 
			 Wandsworth 30 30 
			 City of Westminster (154)— (154)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham 10 10 
			 Barnet 10 10 
			 Bexley 20 20 
			 Brent 20 20 
			 Bromley 10 10 
			 Croydon 30 50 
			 Ealing 20 30 
			 Enfield 20 20 
			 Greenwich 20 20 
			 Harrow 0 0 
			 Havering 10 10 
			 Hillingdon (154)— 10 
			 Hounslow 10 10 
			 Kingston upon Thames 10 10 
			 Merton 10 10 
			 Redbridge 10 10 
			 Richmond upon Thames 10 10 
			 Sutton (154)— (154)— 
			 Waltham Forest 10 10 
			 London 550 630 
			
			 Bracknell Forest 10 10 
			 Brighton and Hove 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight (154)— (154)— 
			 Medway 10 10 
			 Milton Keynes (154)— (154)— 
			 Portsmouth 20 30 
			 Reading 0 0 
			 Slough 10 10 
			 Southampton 30 30 
			 West Berkshire 10 10 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 10 10 
			 Wokingham (154)— (154)— 
			 Buckinghamshire 30 30 
			 East Sussex 10 10 
			 Hampshire 70 80 
			 Kent 60 60 
			 Oxfordshire 20 20 
			 Surrey 50 60 
			 West Sussex 10 20 
			 South East 360 400 
			
			 Bath and North East Somerset 0 0 
			 Bournemouth 0 0 
			 City of Bristol 0 0 
			 North Somerset 30 30 
			 Plymouth 20 20 
			 Poole 10 10 
			 South Gloucestershire 20 20 
			 Swindon 20 30 
			 Torbay 10 10 
			 Cornwall 0 0 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 
			 Devon 20 30 
			 Dorset 20 20 
			 Gloucestershire 10 10 
			 Somerset 30 40 
			 Wiltshire 20 20 
			 South West 220 250 
			 England 2,750 2,990 
		
	
	(154) Between 1 and 5
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	Source:
	Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies.

Pupil-Teacher Ratios

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) students and (b) teachers there were in Essex county in the 2003–04 school year.

Stephen Twigg: In January 2004 there were 200,420 full-time equivalent students and 10,980 full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special and pupil referral units in Essex local education authority.

Romford Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money is allocated to each school in Romford.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is collected at local education authority level. Romford schools fall within Barking and Dagenham, Essex, Havering and Redbridge LEAs. I have placed in the Library tables showing the requested financial data for 2004–05.

SATs Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the grounds on which children can be excused or withdrawn from sitting SATs tests for (a) reading, (b) writing.

Stephen Twigg: The key stage 2 tests assess levels 3 to 5 of the national curriculum. Schools should enter pupils for the tests in English, mathematics and science except where:
	a pupil has been assessed as working at level 2 or below, and will not be working at level 3 by May;
	the school is unable to establish whether a pupil is working at the level of the tests, for example because they have recently arrived in the school and cannot speak English; or
	a pupil is working at the level of the tests but is unable to access them, for example because of a very severe physical disability.
	Details of circumstances in which pupils should not be entered for the key stage 2 tests are set out in section 8 of the Key Stage 2 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements" booklet, published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which is issued to schools and is available on the QCA website.

School Admissions Policy

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the local education authority admissions authorities determine which address is used for a child seeking a school place in an oversubscribed school in the case of joint custody; and if she will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Guidance in the statutory School Admissions Code of Practice advises admission authorities that where a child lives with parents with shared responsibility, each for part of a week, the oversubscription criteria need to make clear how the 'home' address will be decided in a fair and considered way. It is for the individual admission authority to decide what method they will use.

School Attendance

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the data provided by schools to her Department for the last three years regarding attendance.

Stephen Twigg: We are satisfied the pupil absence in schools data published by my Department is accurate. We have processes in place to quality assure and clean the data submitted by each school prior to its provisional publication each September. The data is checked by schools as part of the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables exercise and revised figures are published each December.

School Building (Isle of Wight)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) commitments and (b) undertakings she has made to the Isle of Wight Council regarding future capital allocations provided (i) through the Building Schools for the Future programme or (ii) otherwise, whether (A) contingent on or (B) not contingent on school reorganisation.

Stephen Twigg: A letter has been sent to all council leaders stating that, for authorities not prioritised in the first three waves of Building Schools for the Future (BSF), including the Isle of Wight, we are determined to make a start on BSF plans between 2005–06 and 2010–11. Our ambition is that in the next full Parliament, subject to future spending decisions, 60 per cent. of all authorities will have started in the BSF programme, or else be given resources to renew at least one secondary school with the greatest need as a school for the future, or as an academy. Each BSF scheme will be judged on its merits, and is not necessarily contingent on school reorganisation. Other capital allocations to the council and its schools were announced on 30 November, and are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2006–07 14,853 
			 2007–08 15,446

School Incomes

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for how long her Department has collected information on the income of individual schools; and if she will provide that information and the number of pupils for the first 10 community primary schools and first 10 community secondary schools by her Department's number in each local education authority for each year for which the information is available.

Stephen Twigg: The Department has just finished collecting the second year's worth of Consistent Financial Reporting data from individual schools. I have placed in the Library tables showing the requested financial data for 2002–03 and 2003–04. Some authorities have fewer than 10 community primary or secondary schools.

School Leavers (City of Durham)

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers in the City of Durham moved on to (a) higher education, (b) further education and (c) employment in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: Information on 18-year-olds entering HE is collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and is available at constituency level. The number of 18-year-olds entering HE from City of Durham constituency from end 1999 to end 2003 is given in Table 1. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.
	
		Table 1: The number of 18-year-olds from City of Durham constituency entering HE: 1999 to 2003
		
			 End of calendar year Number of people 
		
		
			 1999 260 
			 2000 240 
			 2001 260 
			 2002 295 
			 2003 305 
		
	
	Estimates of the percentage of young people participating in education and LSC-funded work-based learning (WBL) are not available below the local education authority (LEA) level. The number of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education, and in education and WBL, in Durham LEA, from end 1997 to end 2001, are shown in Table 2. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Estimates for end 2002 and end 2003 (provisional) are due to be published in March 2005.
	
		Table 2: Participation in education and training by 16-year-olds in Durham LEA: 1997 to 2001
		
			 End of calendar year Full-time education Education and LSC funded work based learning (WBL) 
		
		
			 1997 3,800 5,400 
			 1998 3,800 5,200 
			 1999 4,000 5,500 
			 2000 3,900 5,200 
			 2001 4,200 5,500 
		
	
	Information on 16 to 19-year-olds in employment (both full and part-time) is available at parliamentary constituency level from the Office for National Statistics. Table 3 following shows the numbers and percentages in City of Durham constituency since 2001. However, sample sizes are very small due to the narrow age band and small geographic area. Therefore, the employment rate is volatile and care should be taken when interpreting the figures. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand, with the rates calculated from unrounded numbers.
	
		Table 3: The number and the percentage of 16 to 19-year-olds in employment in City of Durham constituency, 2001/02 to 2003/04
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 2001–02 3,000 86.3 
			 2002–03 3,000 49.1 
			 2003–04(155) 1,000 37.8 
		
	
	(155) The employment rate for 2003–04 is based on a sample size of less than 10.

School Organising Committees

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has provided on declaration of interests by members of school organising committees.

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued guidance on the conduct of members of School Organisation Committees (SOCs) which includes advice that members should declare an interest in any proposal which directly affects a school at which they are a governor or which their children attend, or in which they might have a pecuniary interest in the decision made. The guidance suggests that any member with such an interest should withdraw from the discussion and take no part in the decision. Alternatively, where it is known in advance that a conflict of interest will arise, a member may invite an alternate, who has no interest to declare, to attend the meeting in his place.
	Regulations also provide that where two groups on a SOC do not vote on a statutory proposal because members of two groups declare an interest, the proposals should be referred to the schools adjudicator for decision.

School Toilets

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will extend school premises regulations to stipulate the (a) suitability, (b) condition and (c) accessibility of pupils' toilets.

Stephen Twigg: The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 are due to be revised within the next year and, subject to consultation, may be extended to place a duty on schools to maintain pupils' toilets in good condition, although the regulations do provide for necessary maintenance under the health, safety and welfare paragraph. Accessibility by disabled pupils is already covered by the regulations; suitability is taken into account in design for build, rebuild or refurbishment of premises.

School Toilets

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will introduce legislation governing toilet provision for pupils in schools to bring provisions into line with those governing the adult workplace.

Stephen Twigg: Provision of toilet and wash facilities is covered by the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. These regulations, which are due to be revised later this year, include a section on Health, Safety and Welfare. Paragraph 17(3) provides that
	every part of a school building and of the land provided for a school shall be such that the health, safety and welfare of the occupants ... are reasonably assured".
	This paragraph, we believe, should ensure that toilet provision equates with that provided for adults under Health and Safety legislation.

School Toilets

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how adherence to the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 is monitored with regard to the number of toilets and washbasins provided for pupils.

Stephen Twigg: The responsibility for enforcement of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 lies with local education authorities. The Department does not monitor individual schools for compliance with the regulations.

School Uniforms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's policy is on school uniforms in primary schools.

Derek Twigg: School governing bodies are responsible for deciding whether their school should have a uniform policy, and if so, what it should consist of. The headteacher's role is to ensure pupils comply with the uniform policy agreed by the governing body.
	When setting a uniform policy the Department expects school governing bodies to behave reasonably, considering the impact of their policies on parents and pupils.

Secondary Schools (Romford)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the performance of secondary schools in Romford.

Stephen Twigg: Between 1997 and 2003, the percentage of pupils achieving level 5 or above at key stage 3 in Romford constituency schools increased by 4.2 percentage points in English, by 9.2 percentage points in mathematics and by 7.3 percentage points in science. School level key stage 3 information for 2004 is not yet available. At key stage 4 there has been a significant increase of 20.6 percentage points in the attainment of 5A*-C GCSEs between 1997 and 2004, well above the national rate of improvement of 8.6 percentage points. A summary of secondary outcomes is set out in the following table.
	Information about education and skills by constituency is made available by the Department through the 'In Your Area' website, available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea.
	
		Key stage 3: percentage of pupils at level 5 and above
		
			  English Maths Science 
		
		
			 1997 63 65.2 63 
			 1998 64.3 62.3 61.5 
			 1999 72.2 67.8 58.5 
			 2000 71.3 70.6 61.1 
			 2001 74.5 72.5 70.5 
			 2002 70.3 74.4 72.6 
			 2003 67.2 74.4 70.3 
		
	
	
		Key Stage 4
		
			  Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-C 
		
		
			 1997 41.7 
			 1998 42.6 
			 1999 46.8 
			 2000 48.4 
			 2001 47.6 
			 2002 52.8 
			 2003 58.2 
			 2004 62.3

Sex Education

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will establish abstinence as the starting point for all sex education lessons; and if she will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Government believes that all young people should receive a balanced programme of sex and relationship education (SRE) at school, which encourages them to delay sexual activity until they are ready and prepares them to make responsible choices about their relationships when they do become sexually active.
	In 2000, DfES issued guidance to schools on the teaching of SRE. Schools are required to adhere to the principles set out in the guidance, which makes clear that pupils should learn the reasons for delaying sexual activity and the benefits to be gained from such delay.

School Staff

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the number of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants has changed in Stockton, South since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: Information for maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units, in Stockton, South is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  January 1997 January 2004 
		
		
			 Full-time equivalent number of teachers 910 940 
			 Full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants 90 160 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual School Census

School Staff

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were employed at all schools in Easington constituency in each year since 2001.

Stephen Twigg: The full-time equivalent number of teachers in all maintained schools in Easington constituency is given in the following table.
	
		Maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units(156)(5507390157)(158)(5507390159) Full-time equivalent number of teachers -- Position in January each year: 2001 to 2004Easington parliamentary constituency
		
			  FTE Teachers 
		
		
			 2001 640 
			 2002 650 
			 2003 650 
			 2004 650 
		
	
	(156) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(157) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(158) Includes teachers with and without qualified teacher status.
	(159) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

School Staff

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistant posts there were in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Leicester, South in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants and other support staff in Leicester, South constituency is given in the following table:
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(160)(5507390161): full-time equivalent number of teaching assistantsJanuary 2004Leicester, South parliamentary constituency
		
			  Primary schools Secondary schools 
		
		
			 1997 90 10 
			 1998 90 10 
			 1999 110 10 
			 2000 100 20 
			 2001 130 20 
			 2002 180 30 
			 2003 210 30 
			 2004 210 30 
		
	
	(160) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(161) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

School Staff

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants are employed in schools in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington, North.

Stephen Twigg: In January 2004 there were 460 full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units, in Warrington local education authority. There were 240 in Warrington, North parliamentary constituency.

University Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the university drop-out rate was in (a) England and (b) the North East in 2003–04.

Kim Howells: The latest information on non-completion rates was published last September by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in Performance Indicators in HE", which is available from their website at http://www.hesa.ac.uk/ The figures for HE institutions in the North East and England are shown in the table.
	
		Projected non-completion rates of students on full-time first degree courses
		
			  Percentage 
			  Non-completion rate of those starting courses in 2001/02(162) 
			  Projected(163) Benchmark(164) 
		
		
			 University of Durham 2.3 6.4+ 
			 University of Newcastle 7.0 8.7 
			 Northumbria University 13.9 16.5 
			 University of Sunderland 26.9 18.5- 
			 University of Teeside(165) — — 
			 England 14.1 (166)— 
		
	
	(162) The non-completion rates cover UK domiciled full-time students starting first degree courses who are projected neither to transfer nor achieve an alternative award from their study.
	(163) HESA use a method of projection applied to the cohort of students starting full-time first degree courses in a particular year, based on the assumption that they will move through the system in the same way as current students.
	(164) As well as the projected value, HESA also calculate an expected (benchmark) value for each institution, which allows for the entry qualifications, age and subject mix of the institution's students. Those institutions whose projected non completion rate differs significantly from their benchmark value are highlighted (+ or -) in the table.
	(165) The outcomes for the University of Teesside have been left out because problems with their data this year have adversely affected their figures.
	(166) Benchmarks are not calculated at national level.

University Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of those between the ages of 18 and 22 years from the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East are studying at university.

Kim Howells: The recent HEFCE publication Young participation in higher education" (HEFCE 2005/03) looks at the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency. A discussion of the participation divisions and trends (18-year-olds in 1994 to 18-year-olds in 2000) for constituencies is contained in the report [sections 2.12, 3.8 and 4.1].
	In addition, participation rates for parliamentary constituencies based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar). These indicate that, for the cohorts reaching 18 between 1997 and 1999, 28 per cent. of young people living in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency entered higher education at age 18 or 19 (the English average for these cohorts is 29 per cent.).

University Education

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 18 to 22-year-olds from Chorley constituency are studying at university.

Kim Howells: The recent HEFCE publication 'Young participation in higher education' (HEFCE 2005/03) looks at the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency. A discussion of the participation divisions and trends (18-year-olds in 1994 to 18-year-olds in 2000) for constituencies is contained in the report [sections 2.12, 3.8 and 4.1].
	In addition, participation rates for parliamentary constituencies based on this work are given on the supporting POLAR website www.hefce.ac.uk/polar. These indicate that, for the cohorts reaching 18 between 1997 and 1999, 34 per cent. of young people living in Chorley constituency entered higher education at age 18 or 19 (the English average for these cohorts is 29 per cent.)

Youth Clubs

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to encourage provision of further youth clubs and other recreational places for young people.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Education and Skills Five Year Strategy signalled the intention to consider a new offer for young people. Details will be set out in a Green Paper to be published for consultation shortly.
	Central to this offer is enabling young people to access exciting and enjoyable activities in and out of school or college that enhance their personal, social and educational development and reflect what they do, including sport, outdoor activities and residential opportunities. As part of this work, my Department is looking at the full range of youth facilities, safe places and spaces in which young people can spend their leisure time.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Doctor/Nurse Ratios

Mrs. Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) doctor and (b) nurse to patient ratio is at each hospital in the Province; and what it was (i) 10 and (ii) 20 years ago.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.

Nursing Vacancies

Mrs. Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many whole-time equivalent nursing vacancies there were on the latest date for which figures are available at each trust in the Province.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1074W.

Police (Medical Retirements)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) regular, (b) full-time reserve and (c) part-time reserve police officers were medically retired as a result of an injury on duty in each year since 1975.

Ian Pearson: The figures requested are provided in the following table.
	
		Figures for medical retirements as a result of IOD
		
			  Regular officer Full-time reserve Part-time reserve Service total 
		
		
			 1970 1 0 0 1 
			 1971 1 0 0 1 
			 1972 2 0 0 2 
			 1973 5 0 1 6 
			 1974 6 0 1 7 
			 1975 4 0 1 5 
			 1976 2 0 3 5 
			 1977 6 2 4 12 
			 1978 4 5 5 14 
			 1979 3 4 5 12 
			 1980 5 1 0 6 
			 1981 3 1 2 6 
			 1982 1 3 0 4 
			 1983 4 4 4 12 
			 1984 11 2 2 15 
			 1985 10 2 3 15 
			 1986 6 2 2 10 
			 1987 13 5 2 20 
			 1988 7 2 1 10 
			 1989 10 4 2 16 
			 1990 10 3 1 14 
			 1991 4 6 0 10 
			 1992 12 7 1 20 
			 1993 10 6 3 19 
			 1994 7 2 0 9 
			 1995 18 7 0 25 
			 1996 38 14 4 56 
			 1997 26 13 3 42 
			 1998 29 13 2 44 
			 1999 24 28 0 52 
			 2000 65 55 3 123 
			 2001 90 101 0 191 
			 2002 102 145 0 247 
			 2003 65 61 3 129 
			 2004 55 66 1 122 
			 Total 659 564 56 1,279

Television Licences

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many television licences have been issued in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration under contract to the Corporation. The BBC has advised that this information is not available as the Corporation does not collect any data on a constituency level.

Television Licences

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been paid in television licence fees in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration under contract to the Corporation. The BBC has advised that this information is not available as it does not split licence fee revenue by nation or region.

Television Licences

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of households in Northern Ireland which have not paid for television licences where such licences should have been paid for.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The BBC has indicated that the data required to produce accurate estimates is not available for the nations and regions. However, as the hon. Member may be aware, the National Audit Office's 2002 report The BBC: Collecting the Television Licence Fee" indicated that the estimated evasion rate for Northern Ireland at the end of March 2001 was 17.6 per cent.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Children and Young People Action Plan

Charles Hendry: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total costs of publishing the Involving Children and Young People Action Plan 2004–05 were; and what he estimates the total costs of implementing the plans set out in the document will be.

Christopher Leslie: The total cost of publishing the Involving Children and Young People Action Plan 2004–05 was £3,748.20. The total cost for implementing the plans set out in the Proposal section and the Appendices of the Action Plan could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. The DCA Schools Conference held in September 2004 cost £9,314.90.

Electoral Registration

Roger Gale: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that only the names of bona fide electors appear on the electoral register and are eligible and permitted to vote in any forthcoming general election.

David Lammy: The annual canvass form which is sent to all households provides information about who is eligible to register. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), who are responsible for compiling the electoral register as accurately as possible, may require a person applying to register to give additional information if they are in doubt as to whether that person is eligible to be registered. They may also refer to other records kept by the council or the registrar of births, marriages and deaths if they consider that further checks are necessary. It is an offence under the Representation of the People Regulations 2001 to fail to comply with a request for information from an ERO or to provide false or inaccurate information to a registration officer. The electoral register is available for public inspection which enables checks to be made that only eligible electors are on the register. It is an offence to register fraudulently as another person and also for a person who has so registered subsequently to vote in an election.

Equality of Opportunity

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether under the Equality Bill it will be the responsibility of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to promote equality of opportunity regardless of religion and sexual orientation.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	The Commission for Equality and Human Rights will have the function of promoting equality, diversity and human rights generally, and will do so particularly in relation to religion or belief and sexual orientation as well as age, disability, gender (including reassigned gender) and race.

Freedom of Information

Julian Lewis: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were received by Government departments between 1 and 12 January; and how many (a) had been answered, (b) had been refused and (c) were still outstanding 20 working days from the date of receipt.

David Lammy: The Department for Constitutional Affairs will be publishing full monitoring statistics of central Government's operation of the Freedom of Information Act in spring 2005.
	The monitoring regime is published at: http://www.foi.gov.uk/map/gus-v4-appf.pdf. It does not require Government departments to provide statistics broken down into specific time periods. Consequently, the information requested is not immediately available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, given the public interest in the volume and handling of Freedom of Information requests, the following figures are available for the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
	The Department for Constitutional Affairs received 106 requests between 1 January and 12 January. Of these:
	(a) 94 have been answered;
	(b) 25 were refused either in full or in part;
	(c) 12 were still outstanding 20 working days from the date of receipt (including nine cases extended in accordance with section 10(3) of the Act).

Judicial Studies Board

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the training programme of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) in relation to section 101 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003; how many judges were trained by (a) 15 January and (b) 15 February; and how many judges he anticipates will have been trained by 15 March or the conclusion of the JSB training programme, whichever is the later.

David Lammy: The Judicial Studies Board (JSB) has developed a training package to support the implementation of the Criminal Justice Reforms, which include the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the Courts Act 2003 and the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The core of the programme is a series of two-day residential seminars held during the period January to March 2005 to which all judges exercising the criminal jurisdiction have been invited. The training package also includes seminar and distance learning materials in hard copy and electronic format. Section 101 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 forms a significant element of the seminars and training materials. All criminal judges were issued with written materials on the provisions of Section 101 before their implementation in December 2004, which are available on the JSB's website at www.jsboard.co.uk. Numbers of judges trained in the CJR programme are: (a) 268; (b) 1,146. It is anticipated that 2,212 judges will have been trained by the completion of the seminars on 23 March 2005.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent on (a) the provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The cost of parking spaces for civil servants is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Civil servants are personally responsible for meeting the cost of parking tickets and penalties and therefore, there is no cost to the Department.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent on postage by the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Total postage cost for the Department, which covers costs for the Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office and DCA Headquarters, was £7.7 million in 1998–99, £7.2 million in 1999–2000, £7.6 million in 2000–01, £5.8 million in 2001–02, £7.6 million in 2002–03, £7.3 million in 2003–04 and £6.0 million in 2004–05 (to 31 December).
	These figures cover cost of distribution, postage, franking machines, IDX and DX. The Department has a general policy where all post is sent out second class unless it is stated otherwise.
	Information on 1997–98 is not readily available.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: It is not possible to list the entertainment costs spent by the Department broken down by (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	However, for overall expenditure on entertainment for the Department, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my previous answer on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 118W.

Prince of Wales

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Privy Council was consulted on the date for theproposed marriage between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will take steps to stop rape trials at Crown courts from being listed as floating trials.

David Lammy: Departmental records show that during 2004 four cases were listed as floaters, but this should be placed in the context of 1,039 cases listed for trial where there was at least one count of rape.
	Court Service policy is that rape cases are listed as fixtures and not as floating trials because of their sensitivity. However, courts' listing practices are a matter for local judicial discretion.

Staff Surveys

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1) how much was paid to consultants carrying out staff surveys in the Department in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the cost of staff surveys in the Department and its predecessors was in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: My Department undertakes staff surveys to cover key issues relating to staff satisfaction. Through regular surveying (usually annually) the survey acts as a temperature check for the organisation with a combination of demographic and benchmark questions. This enables my Department to make comparisons between groups internally as well as with other similar organisations and to monitor progress. Staff surveys are usually carried out by external consultants. The costs of these surveys are given as follows.
	
		
			  Cost (£) Surveys 
		
		
			 1997(167) 17,649 Court Service 
			 1998(167) 24,612 Court Service 
			 1999 43,270 Court Service and LCD 
			 2000 82,063 Court Service and LCD 
			 2001(167) 71,090 Court Service 
			 2002 55,923 Court Service and LCD 
			 2003 60,765 DCA combined survey 
		
	
	(167) Surveys not conducted by LCD.

HEALTH

ATMs

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts are free to negotiate contracts exclusively for the installation of ATMs for which there is a charge in hospitals.

John Hutton: National health service trusts are free to enter into contracts for the installation of ATMs on their premises. Whether users of ATMs are charged for doing so will depend on the policy of the financial institution providing the ATM.

Better Healthcare Consultation

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gave to the Merton, Sutton and Mid-Surrey NHS Trust during the recent consultation Better Healthcare Closer to Home, with particular reference to (a) publicising the consultation within the catchment area and (b) definition of the catchment area; and what guidance is available for NHS trusts performing similar consultations on each aspect area.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has issued general guidance to the national health service on changes to services to support Sections 7 and 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001.
	Overview and Scrutiny of Health—guidance to support consultation with overview and scrutiny committees was issued in May 2003.
	Strengthening Accountability—policy and practice guidance on public consultation and involvement was issued in February 2003.
	Keeping the NHS local: a new direction of travel—guidance on the principles and approach which should be applied to all proposed service change was issued in February 2003.

Botox

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much botox is manufactured in the UK by (a) Ipsen (Dysport) and (b) Allergan (botox).

Rosie Winterton: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency does not collect information about the amounts of medicinal products manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Chiropodists/Podiatrists

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the organisations representing chiropody and podiatry practitioners who responded to his Department's consultation on the establishment of the Health Professional Council; and which organisations (a) supported and (b) opposed the establishment of the Council.

John Hutton: The consultation exercise did not seek respondents' views on whether or not they supported the establishment of a new Council, but sought their views on the structure, composition, functions and operations of the proposed Council.
	The following organisations representing chiropody and podiatry were consulted:
	The Association of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.
	The British Chiropody and Podiatry Association.
	Heads of Chiropody/Podiatry Service Group for Wales.
	The Institute for Chiropodists and Podiatrists.
	Podiatrists Group in Scotland.
	Scottish Chiropodists Association.
	The SMAE Institute.
	The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

Waiting Times (Worcestershire)

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many consultant episodes were completed in Worcestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the (a) maximum and (b) average waiting times were for in-patient treatment in Worcestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many people waited for in-patient treatment for more than 18 months in Worcestershire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the number of finished consultant episodes, the average waiting time (both the mean and the median) and the number of patients who waited more than 18 months for each year since 1997–98, for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust and its predecessor organisations; Alexandra Healthcare NHS Trust, Worcestershire Royal Infirmary NHS Trust and Kidderminster Healthcare NHS Trust.
	Maximum waiting time information is not available centrally.
	
		Activity and waiting times for Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust 1997–98 to 2003–04
		
			  Finished episodes Mean waiting time in days Median waiting time in days Finished admissions with more than 18 months waiting time 
		
		
			 1997–98 91,549 100.7 42 158 
			 1998–99 93,133 125.7 57 404 
			 1999–2000 94,279 112.3 56 439 
			 2000–01 91,325 98.5 48 294 
			 2001–02 88,468 107.3 56 240 
			 2002–03 92,091 128.8 75 414 
			 2003–04 97,612 131.1 82 377 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	2. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	3. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	4. Length of stay—duration of spell (LOS)—is calculated as the difference in days between the admission date and the discharge date, where both are given. LOS is based on hospital spells and only applies to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated). Information relating to LOS figures, including discharge method/destination, diagnoses and any operative procedures, is based only on the final episode of the spell.
	5. Time waited statistics from hospital episode statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	Source:
	HES, Department of Health.

Dentistry (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists are working in (a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire.

Rosie Winterton: As of 31 December 2004, there were 79 general dental service (GDS) or personal dental service (PDS) dentists working in the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust area and 454 GDS or PDS dentists working in the county of Lancashire.
	Source:
	Department of Health.

Depression

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources are available from the NHS for people suffering from depression.

Rosie Winterton: The national service framework for mental health sets out how people suffering from depression should be able to access a full range of effective national health service treatment and care in and through primary care, and in specialised secondary services, including in-patient care, where appropriate.
	Guidance published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence further elaborates the services that may be needed for people suffering from chronic, treatment-resistant, recurrent, atypical, psychotic depression, and for those at significant risk.
	Further information about the financial, service-related and workforce resources currently available nationally may be found in the National Service Framework for Mental Health—Five Years On", published in December 2004. Information about the resources and services in any one locality may be obtained from the relevant primary care trust.

Diabetes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffer from diabetes in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley and South Ribble primary care trust.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally.

Diabetes

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the NHS in a year of treating (a) diabetes, (b) diabetes type 1 and (c) diabetes type 2.

Stephen Ladyman: The recent report by Wanless, Securing good health for the whole population: Final report—February 2004" states that the total cost to the national health service of treating type one and type two diabetes is £1.3 billion per year. The specific costs relating to treatment of type one and type two are not available.

Digital Hearing Aids

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Leicester, South are on waiting lists for digital hearing aids.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Dr. Chai Patel

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what capacity Dr. Chai Patel advises his Department.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 8 February 2005
	Dr. Chai Patel does not act as an advisor to the Department.

Eating Disorders

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of outreach workers on the rates of readmission for in-patient care by people with serious eating disorders living in the community.

Rosie Winterton: Assertive outreach has been shown to be an effective approach to the management of people with severe mental health problems with complex needs who have difficulty engaging with services and often require repeat admission to hospital. Using an assertive outreach approach can:
	Improve engagement.
	Reduce hospital admissions.
	Reduce length of stay when hospitalisation is required.
	Increase stability in the lives of service users and their carers/family.
	Improve social functioning.
	Be cost effective.
	Assertive outreach teams work with people with severe and persistent mental disorders, which may include serious eating disorders. However, the Department does not collect diagnostic information centrally about case loads of such teams.
	The evidence base for assertive outreach was set out in the Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" (2001).

Eating Disorders

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to primary care trusts on commissioning primary care services for people with serious eating disorders.

Rosie Winterton: Tertiary eating disorder services are part of the national specialised services definition set (NSSDS), which provides guidance to commissioners on securing effective collective planning arrangements that take into account the needs of a planning population considerably larger than that of a single primary care trust. A group led by the national director for mental health is currently reviewing the NSSDS, with a view to publishing updated guidance later this year.
	Local health communities should design the provision of their services for the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders in light of the clinical guidelines published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in 2004.

Elective Surgery

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the information on which patients would want to base their choices for elective surgery; and what steps he is taking to provide this information (a) through primary care trusts, (b) through strategic health authorities and (c) centrally.

John Hutton: The Department has commissioned research through MORI and Dr. Foster and consulted with patients and clinicians through a number of workshops to identify the information that patients would want to make a choice of hospital. We have also drawn on a number of independent studies including those looking at the information and support needs of hard-to-reach groups.
	We know from this body of research that patients require information on four key areas: waiting times, location and convenience factors, patient experience and clinical quality. The Department provides comparative information for national health service providers in these four key areas on its website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/PatientChoice/Choice/ChoiceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4084336&chk=j6/TOq
	It has also asked primary care trusts to supplement this with local information on providers to further support patients.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on pollution-related diseases in the framework of the action plan for public health met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on pollution-related diseases did not meet during the Italian, Irish or Dutch presidencies.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health promotion information, education and training met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training ran from 1996 to 2002. The last meeting of the programme committee was held on 7 February 2002 in Luxembourg, prior to the commencement of the Italian, Irish and Dutch European Union presidencies, which fell within the period from July 2003 to December 2004.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence in the framework of the action plan for public health met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: None. The purpose of the committee for the implementation of the community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence was to assist the European Commission in implementing the action programme. The committee's work had been completed by the time the Italian presidency began.

General Practitioners

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average proportion of patients to general practitioner is in each primary care trust in (a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset and (d) North Somerset.

Rosie Winterton: The average number of patients per general practitioner for each primary care trust (PCT) in Somerset, Devon, Dorset and North Somerset is shown in the table.
	
		Average list size of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)(168) for specified PCTs -- Number (headcount)
		
			  PCT UPEs Patients of UPEs Average list size 
		
		
			 5CE Bournemouth 106 170,436 1,608 
			 5 FT East Devon 78 115,844 1,485 
			 5FR Exeter 85 131,297 1,545 
			 5FX Mendip 61 110,276 1,808 
			 5FV Mid Devon 75 105,718 1,410 
			 5FQ North Devon 113 156,543 1,385 
			 5CD North Dorset 66 91,061 1,380 
			 5F1 Plymouth 159 260,369 1,638 
			 5KV Poole 109 172,143 1,579 
			 5FW Somerset Coast 92 143,437 1,559 
			 5FN South and East Dorset 105 152,625 1,454 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon 72 104,468 1,451 
			 5K1 South Somerset 99 150,087 1,516 
			 5FP South West Dorset 97 140,690 1,450 
			 5K2 Taunton Deane 74 106,809 1,443 
			 5FY Teignbridge 68 108,439 1,595 
			 5CW Torbay 89 142,209 1,598 
		
	
	(168) UPEs include general medical service unrestricted principals, personal medical service contracted general practitioners and personal medical service salaried general practitioners. Patient data has been revised from previously published figures.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September 2003.
	Source:
	Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics.

General Practitioners

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in each primary care trust in (a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset and (d) North Somerset.

Rosie Winterton: The number of general practitioners in these areas are shown in the table.
	
		All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums)(169) for specified organisations as at 30 September 2003 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			  
		
		
			 5CE Bournemouth PCT 107 
			 5 FT East Devon PCT 79 
			 5FR Exeter PCT 86 
			 5FX Mendip PCT 75 
			 5FV Mid Devon PCT 77 
			 5FQ North Devon PCT 114 
			 5CD North Dorset PCT 69 
			 5KV Poole PCT 109 
			 5FW Somerset Coast PCT 102 
			 5FN South and East Dorset PCT 107 
			 5CV South Hams and West Devon PCT 72 
			 5K1 South Somerset PCT 103 
			 5FP South West Dorset PCT 97 
			 5K2 Taunton Deane PCT 75 
		
	
	(169) All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) includes general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted general practitioners, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors, PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Source:
	Department of Health GMS and PMS statistics.

Health Expenditure (Leicester, South)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the health expenditure per head of population in Leicester, South constituency has been in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: It is not possible to provide expenditure figures for the Leicester, South constituency, as this does not correspond to any specific health authority (HA) area. The information shown in the table is from the relevant HA areas from 1996–97 to 2003–04, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		Expenditure per weighted head of population in the relevant HA areas -- £ per head
		
			  Leicestershire HA area Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority area 
		
		
			 1996–97 635.71 n/a 
			 1997–98 617.54 n/a 
			 1998–99 654.02 n/a 
			 1999–2000 762.80 n/a 
			 2000–01 779.71 n/a 
			 2001–02 821.16 n/a 
			 2002–03 n/a 951.51 
			 2003–04 n/a 1,082.64 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority summarisation forms and primary care trust summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the relevant HAs, and the commissioner costs of the primary care trusts (PCTs). Figures are given in cash terms.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of HAs and PCTs.
	3. Figures for 1996–97 to 2001–02 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. This is to ensure consistency between years. Figures based on strategic health authority (SHA) areas have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure, which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services.
	4. In many HAs, there are factors, which distort the expenditure. These include:
	the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in national health service trusts being funded through health authorities or primary care trusts.
	5. The majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the individual health authority accounts or primary care trust summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by health authorities or primary care trusts. Total expenditure on these items by the Dental Practice Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority cannot be allocated to individual health bodies. For these reasons, expenditure per head cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.
	6. Expenditure on general dental services and pharmaceutical services accounted for by the Dental Practice Board and Prescription Pricing Authority, respectively, are excluded. This expenditure cannot be included within the figures for the individual health bodies as they are not included in commissioner accounts.
	Sources:
	HA audited accounts 1996–97 and 1997–98.
	HA audited summarisation forms 1998–99 to 2001–02.
	SHA audited summarisation forms 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	PCT audited summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2003–04.
	Weighted population figures 1996–97 to 2003–04.

Health Funding (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will adjust the funding allocations to Chorley to take account of the increased number of residents.

John Hutton: Revenue allocations made to primary care trusts for 2003–04 to 2005–06 were announced on 11 December 2002. These allocations were based on the best available populations data. There are no plans to revisit these allocations.
	Revenue allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08 were announced on 9 February 2005. These allocations are based on population projections, which include an adjustment for expected increases in populations.

Health Promotion

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been put in place by the Government to tackle (a) cardiovascular disease and (b) diabetes in the South Asian population in England.

Rosie Winterton: Both the national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) and the national service framework for diabetes have set out modern standards and service models for the national health service for the prevention and treatment of these conditions. Both frameworks highlight the need to pay close attention to the needs of groups which are particularly vulnerable to CHD and diabetes, including South Asians.
	To support this work, the Department produced a best practice guide for providing CHD services to South Asians last year. The guide includes a chapter on diabetes, which describes the NSF and provides some case studies of good practice. The guide aims to support service providers, including strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs), hospitals and other organisations working with South Asian communities to deliver heart disease services to South Asian people.
	The toolkit is entitled, Heart Disease and South Asians, and was published by the South Asian Health Foundation in conjunction with the Department and the British Heart Foundation. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	In addition, the United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) has been asked to advise the Department by the end of 2005 on policy for screening for Type 2 diabetes. The NSC will advise on whether general population screening for diabetes is necessary, or alternatively that screening should be offered to specific sub-groups of the population who are at high risk for diabetes, such as some ethnic minority groups.

LIFT Scheme

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) when the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) Scheme to fund general practitioners' surgeries was announced;
	(2)  when the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) Scheme came into operation.

John Hutton: We announced our intention to set up the National Health Service Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme in the NHS Plan, published in July 2000, and explained in detail how LIFT would operate in the NHS LIFT prospectus issued in July 2001. The first wave of LIFT projects was given the green light in November 2001 to proceed to procurement. The first LIFT building was opened to patients on 14 September 2004 at Manor Park in East London.

Mental Health

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people he estimates are suffering from depression in Lancashire.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally.

Mixed-sex Wards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) wards, (b) medical assessment units and (c) surgical assessment units in NHS hospitals in England are operated on a mixed-sex basis.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The provision of single-sex accommodation is measured as compliance with three objectives we have set, requiring national health service trusts to provide single-sex sleeping areas, separate bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women, and where appropriate, safe facilities for the mentally ill.
	Compliance is measured annually at trust level, and information at ward level is therefore not available. Nationally, 97 per cent., of NHS trusts are fully compliant with our standards.
	We do not collect information on compliance in specialised areas of a hospital such as medical or surgical assessment units, where the need to provide urgent treatment may take precedence over the strict separation of men and women. No area of a hospital is exempt from the need to protect the privacy and dignity of patients, but no hospital will turn a patient away because a bed is not available in an area appropriate to that patient's gender.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of Departmental mobile phone bills for each financial year since 2001–02 is shown in the table. Figures for the years 1997–98 to 2000–01 are not available.
	
		
			 Financial year Costs (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 270,000 
			 2002–03 280,000 
			 2003–04 304,000 
			 2004–05 301,000

Healthy Living

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about future funding for healthy living centres and healthy lifestyles workers.

Melanie Johnson: I have had no discussions with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister about future funding for healthy living centres or healthy lifestyles workers.

Learning Disabilities

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many village and intentional communities have been established for people with learning disabilities since the publication of his Department's White Paper, Valuing People", (2001) and its statutory guidance.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not held centrally.

MRSA

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the infection rates of MRSA have been by age groups in (a) the London borough of Havering, (b) Greater London and (c) the United Kingdom for the past five years.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Protection Agency's voluntary reporting system is the only national dataset providing information on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections by age.
	Information is not available by London borough. Available data for the London region and England, Wales and Northern Ireland is shown in the following tables.
	
		Table 1: Rates of MRSA bloodstream infections by age group: London region, 1999 to 2003 (number of cases per 100,000 population)(170)
		
			 Age group 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Up to 1 13.40 15.56 10.07 11.70 22.34 
			 1 to 4 0.50 1.02 — 2.11 1.06 
			 5 to 9 0.84 0.85 0.87 — 0.44 
			 10 to 14 0.45 1.35 0.90 0.45 — 
			 15 to 44 2.93 3.64 3.27 3.39 4.67 
			 45 to 64 13.87 20.15 17.91 19.41 25.93 
			 65 to 74 52.71 55.40 56.62 67.12 67.32 
			 75 plus 108.89 123.55 124.45 132.27 139.09 
			 Overall rate 13.34 15.64 16.35 18.72 19.24 
		
	
	Source:
	(170) Health Protection Agency.
	
		Table 2: Rates of MRSA bloodstream infections by age group: England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 1999 to 2003 (number of cases per 100,000 population)(171)
		
			 Age group 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Up to 1 5.87 5.89 6.88 6.73 10.52 
			 1 to 4 0.64 0.64 0.73 0.95 0.76 
			 5 to 9 0.25 0.14 0.15 0.15 0.21 
			 10 to 14 0.09 0.42 0.17 0.22 0.11 
			 15 to 44 1.50 1.78 2.38 2.44 2.55 
			 45 to 64 5.82 7.94 8.68 9.08 10.21 
			 65 to 74 18.99 23.89 28.15 28.00 29.21 
			 75 plus 32.31 41.50 52.28 56.01 63.48 
			 Overall rate 6.24 7.99 9.68 10.20 11.10 
		
	
	Source:
	(171) Health Protection Agency.

MRSA

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many MRSA cases there were in each Government Office region in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: Regional data for the time period requested are only available from the voluntary reporting scheme for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections, run by the Health Protection Agency. The data is shown in the following table.
	
		MRSA bloodstream infections reported through voluntary reporting system in England
		
			 Region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 East Midlands 131 135 208 316 451 433 390 
			 East of England 286 364 442 495 632 619 627 
			 London 439 407 451 535 569 680 702 
			 North East 43 138 143 152 181 235 337 
			 North West 15 294 367 365 465 472 501 
			 South East 182 390 408 568 738 771 812 
			 South West 353 191 300 374 481 540 593 
			 West Midlands 219 395 498 763 819 771 868 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 344 206 187 327 396 494 655 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency.

Orthopaedic Surgery (Ashford Hospital)

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the delay to his plans to privatise routine orthopaedic surgery at Ashford (Middlesex) hospital;

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress with the proposed independent diagnostic and treatment centre to be established at Ashford hospital.

John Hutton: Detailed negotiations with private sector provider Capio to create an integrated service orthopaedic treatment centre at Ashford (Middlesex) hospital are ongoing. They were delayed for a time whilst detailed costings for the proposed scheme were developed and agreed. This work was completed at the end of January and a way forward should be agreed by the end of February.

Paediatric and Congenital Services Report

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the paediatric and congenital services report;
	(2)  when he plans to implement the recommendations of the paediatric and congenital services report.

Stephen Ladyman: I understand the questions relate to the report of the paediatric and congenital cardiac services review group, which considered health care services and treatment for children with congenital heart disease in the light of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry. The group reported that all paediatric cardiac centres were providing high standards of care for children and made a number of recommendations to preserve these standards. This report and the Government's response was published in December 2003 and a copy is available in the Library.
	The Government accepted and commended these recommendations to national health service primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and the Healthcare Commission, apart from one recommendation, the effect of which would have been to immediately close centres providing a high level of service, but which were carrying out less than a minimum of 300 operations per year. There was no evidence within the report to support this measure, nor has there been any since. Responsibility for commissioning national clinical audit of paediatric cardiac surgery and congenital heart disease transferred to the Healthcare Commission, previously the Commission Healthcare Audit and Inspection, in April 2003.

Payment by Results

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is for the commencement date of payment by results in NHS acute hospitals.

John Hutton: National health service trusts began to use the national tariff in a limited way on 1 April 2003. There is a gradual implementation path, with more services being brought within the scope of the tariff on 1 April 2005, and which will see approximately 90 per cent. of all hospital activity being commissioned using the tariff by 2008–09.

Primary Care Trusts

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reorganisations in the geographical composition of primary care trusts (PCT) there have been since their establishment; and how many PCTs are operating with a chief executive overseeing a cluster of PCTs.

John Hutton: Since their establishment, 124 primary care trusts (PCTs) have amended the statutory instruments that set out their geographical composition. However, the majority of these changes were not to reflect substantial changes in population served, but merely to identify a district by a more appropriate name or to take account of minor changes in electoral ward boundaries.
	The Department does not collect information on the number of PCTs who share a chief executive. Such local management arrangements are at the discretion of strategic health authorities and PCTs.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will allocate more funding to the NHS to allow preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus in premature babies;
	(2)  how many premature babies contracted respiratory syncytial virus in hospital in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health recently announced an allocation of £135 billion to national health service primary care trusts for the next two financial years. Among other objectives, this will assist primary care trusts to invest more funding in preventative treatments including appropriate prophylactic treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
	Infants born preterm are at especially high risk of the consequences of RSV because they may have lungs that were damaged as a result of their prematurity. For that reason, they feature high on the list of children who should be considered for prophylactic therapy.
	The information requested on numbers of premature babies who contracted RSV in hospital is not collected centrally.

Sane

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget was allocated to the mental health charity Sane for (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and what the allocation will be in (i) 2005–06 and (ii) 2006–07.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has a two-year contract with Saneline for the financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05. £1 million has been paid in each of these financial years.
	No specific funding has been allocated to Saneline for 2005–06 and 2006–07.
	The contract ends in March 2005. Saneline, like other voluntary and community sector organisations in health and social care, can apply for funding through the Department's section 64 scheme, mental health helplines investment framework and any other Government funding streams.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has for primary care trusts to fund the capital and revenue costs of new sexual assault referral centres;
	(2)  what advice he has issued to primary care trusts on the funding of sexual assault referral centres in their trust areas.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is working together with the Home Office to strengthen and extend the network of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in England and Wales. Money from the victims fund has been made available over this and next financial year to local police and health partnerships to assist with the set-up costs for SARCs. Applications must demonstrate long-term funding commitments from local police and primary care trusts (PCTs) to sustain the SARC.
	In addition, guidance has recently been issued to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, which include PCTs, on tackling sexual violence. This recommends the development of SARCs, funded jointly by police and PCTs.
	Further guidelines on the development of SARCs will be issued jointly by the Department and the Home Office later this year.

Silverlands

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to complete the sale of the Silverlands mansion in Chertsey, Surrey.

John Hutton: The property is currently advertised for sale on the open market and we hope that a sale will be concluded as soon as possible.

Smoking Cessation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the use of psychotherapy in smoking cessation programmes.

Melanie Johnson: A systematic review of the evidence on the effectiveness of smoking cessation approaches, including individual counselling, has been undertaken by the Cochrane review—Lancaster T., Stead, L. F., Individual behavioural counselling for smoking cessation. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" 2002, (3), a copy of which is available in the Library.

Smoking Cessation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether officials from his Department have met representatives of the Allen Carr Easyway to Stop Smoking organisation;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on smoking cessation techniques.

Melanie Johnson: Officials from the Department have not met representatives of the Allen Carr Easyway to Stop Smoking" organisation. However, officials have corresponded with the organisation.
	The Department regularly receives approaches about smoking cessation techniques and recognises that there are a number of methods that may help smokers to quit. The national policy focus is on those methods with accumulated independent evidence of efficacy. The Department, following guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, endorsed the use on the national health service of nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion (Zyban) as effective stop smoking aids. Used in conjunction with trained support through the NHS stop smoking service, smokers are up to four times more likely to quit successfully than using willpower alone.

Staff Surveys

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was paid to consultants carrying out staff surveys in the Department in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the cost of staff surveys in the Department was in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: There have been four staff surveys in the Department since 1997. These were contracted out to consultants and the costs were as follows:
	
		
			  Costs (£) 
		
		
			 1999 39,500 
			 2000 42,900 
			 2001 35,800 
			 2004 (172)13,000 
		
	
	(172) Sample survey.

Targets

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many targets have been set in each year since 1997 by the Department; and, of these, which have been (a) met, (b) nearly met, (c) not met, (d) changed and (e) dropped.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the Department's public service agreement (PSA) targets and progress against these is reported bi-annually in the departmental report and autumn performance report. These are publicly available and are published by the Stationery Office. Copies are currently available in the Library and can also be accessed via the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/12/85/04081285.pdf (departmental report 2004)
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/09/83/48/04098348.pdf (autumn performance report 2004).

Vacancy Statistics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the three-month vacancy (a) rates and (b) numbers were for (i) midwives, (ii) nurses, (iii)GPs, (iv) district nurses, (v) health visitors, (vi) physiotherapists, (vii) occupational therapists, (viii) speech and language therapists and (ix)consultants, by specialty for (A) England, (B)Strategic Health Authority, (C) each NHS trust and foundation trust and (D) each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The Department's annual vacancy survey, which collects medical and non-medical data, started in 1999.
	Information on the three-month vacancy rate and number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, midwives, district nurses, health visitors, occupied therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists by health authority from 1999 to 2001 and by strategic health authority (SHA) from 2002 to 2004 has been placed in the Library.
	Information on the three-month vacancy rates and vacancy number for consultants in England broken down by speciality group and by SHA from 2002 to 2004 has also been placed in the Library. Prior to 2002, the medical and dental work force data was collected on a different basis with regard to specialty and therefore is not available in a comparable format.
	The Department could provide information by national health service trust or by specialty only at a disproportionate cost.
	The Department's annual general practitioner (GP) recruitment and retention vacancy survey started in 2000 and began collecting information at primary care trust (PCT) level for the first time in 2003. The survey takes place between 1 April and 31 March each year and is a count of all GP vacancies that have occurred during each year. It will include existing posts that doctors have left and also new posts created to increase the work force, even where they were filled very quickly.
	Information on the number of GP vacancies in England broken down by SHA in each year from 2000 to 2004 and by PCT from 2003 to 2004 has been placed in the Library.
	The estimated three-month GP vacancy rate for England from 2002 to 2004 has been placed in the Library. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of the vacancy rate for GPs at SHA or PCT level. Estimated three-month vacancy rates are not available before 2002.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Housing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how and where he plans for houses to be constructed for a selling price of £60,000.

Keith Hill: Homes for All the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Five-Year Plan, launched on 24 January 2005, stated that a Design for Manufacture" competition would invite organisations to bid for the right to construct one or more new developments on sites owned by English Partnerships.
	The competition will provide up to 1,000 homes. A minimum of 30 per cent. of the housing dwellings within the competition will be built to a target cost of £60,000 and the remainder will be larger or smaller dwellings that should be built at an equivalent cost-efficiency.
	English Partnerships are currently identifying the sites for the competition. These will be in the south-east of England. A formal prior information notice will shortly be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union, and advertised in the media.

Business Rates

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to change business rates for those who generate electricity using green methods.

Nick Raynsford: There are no present plans to do so. Any specific rate relief scheme would require primary legislation and the costs and benefits would have to be fully appraised. Through the Renewables Obligation, the Government already provides a very significant level of support for renewable energy generation; this is expected to reach £l billion per year by 2010. Government will also be providing approximately £500 million of support for renewables in the form of research and development and capital grants between 2002 and 2008. In addition, good quality Combined Heat and Power generators already have certain plant and machinery excluded from the rating valuation.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average council tax per dwelling was in each local authority in England in each year since 1996–97.

Nick Raynsford: The figures requested have been made available in the Library of the House.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average parish council precept on council tax levied was in England in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: Information on amounts of council tax precepted by individual parish and town councils is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The average precept for parish and town councils for 2004–05 is, however, estimated to be equivalent to about £40 per Band D property, if averaged across parished areas only, rather than across the whole of England.

Council Tax

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether each collecting local authority's council tax register is available for public inspection.

Nick Raynsford: The valuation list prepared for each English billing authority area by the Valuation Office Agency sets out information about dwellings which may be subject to council tax. Each list is available for inspection at the Valuation Office Agency and at the principal office of the relevant local billing authority. It is also possible to view and search the valuation list for any billing authority on the Valuation Office Agency's website (www.voa.gov.uk)

Decent Homes Standard

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing to SAP 65 the thermal requirements set out in the Decent Homes Standard for Social Housing in all buildings where it is practicable to do so.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates that it would cost £8.5 billion to bring up to SAP 65 all social housing for which that level of thermal efficiency is achievable by means of improvement works. To demolish and rebuild the social sector homes that could not otherwise be brought up to SAP 65 would cost an estimated additional £20 billion.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on official Ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
	In the financial year 2002–03 the amount spent was:
	(a) £96 on ministerial business cards
	(b) £3,753 on ministerial headed paper
	(c) £962 on ministerial compliment slips.
	In the financial year 2003–04 the amount spent was:
	(a) £939 on ministerial business cards
	(b) £750 on ministerial headed paper
	(c) £505 on ministerial compliment slips.
	In the financial year 2004–05 the amount spent was:
	(a) £1,785 on ministerial business cards
	(b) £l,406 on ministerial headed paper
	(c) £743 on compliment slips.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister uses an electronic template for much of the ministerial correspondence as opposed to pre-printed headed paper.

Departmental Expenditure (London)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Office's expenditure has been on (a) Romford and the (b) London borough of Havering in each of the last seven years.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The table sets out the amounts of formula grant and other grants and payments made to the London borough of Havering since 2002–03. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold separate expenditure data on Romford.
	In addition to the amounts in the table, the London Development Agency (LDA) has spent some £61.6 million in Havering since 2000. The LDA receives around 80 per cent. of its funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	
		All figures (£ million)
		
			  Formula grant(173) Other grants and payments 
		
		
			 2002–03 142.977 12.983 
			 2003–04 154.419 15.755 
			 2004–05 161.568 (174)4.610 
		
	
	(173) These figures may not be comparable year-on-year due to changes in the funding and function of local authorities.
	(174) Excludes Housing Revenue Account Subsidy for which audited data for 2004–05 is not yet available.

E-Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to continue funding for e-government after the completion of IEG4.

Phil Hope: Following the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's notification of a satisfactory IEG4 return, local authorities in England will be eligible to apply for further IEG capital grant of £150,000 towards achieving e-government covering the period 1 April 2005–31 March 2006. The equivalent IEG capital grant for National Park Authorities in 2005–06 is £100,000.

Empty Dwellings

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty homes there have been in each Government Office Region in England in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The available information on empty residential dwellings in England by Government Office region is tabled as follows:
	
		Vacant dwelling stock at 1 April, 1997 to 2004
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 North East 41,000 44,000 49,000 50,000 46,000 47,000 44,000 40,000 
			 North West 125,000 126,000 127,000 138,000 141,000 136,000 135,000 128,000 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 81,000 86,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 94,000 88,000 85,000 
			 East Midlands 67,000 67,000 67,000 68,000 63,000 58,000 59,000 59,000 
			 West Midlands 73,000 78,000 77,000 80,000 79,000 77,000 73,000 76,000 
			 East of England 81,000 73,000 70,000 70,000 63,000 64,000 63,000 60,000 
			 London 122,000 114,000 114,000 105,000 105,000 101,000 101,000 100,000 
			 South East 101,000 96,000 95,000 87,000 86,000 85,000 81,000 84,000 
			 South West 78,000 70,000 67,000 64,000 68,000 71,000 76,000 63,000 
			  
			 England 767,000 753,000 767,000 761,000 751,000 732,000 720,000 694,000 
		
	
	Sources:
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return and Housing Corporation's Regulatory and Statistical Return.

Exchange Flags

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made in reinvesting in Liverpool the sum repaid by the Walton Group in respect of Exchange Flags, as promised by his Department on 4 April 2003.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships (EP), the Government's national regeneration agency, is currently working on a number of schemes in Liverpool including one to significantly enhance the Lime Street Gateway. This will include new public space, improved accessibility and potentially a new landmark building. English Partnerships will seek to allocate the Exchange Buildings windfall to a scheme including environmental improvements, in line with the intention behind the original grant. One option is the proposed investment in the Lime Street scheme where EP is working with Liverpool Vision, Liverpool city council, Network Rail, Merseytravel and the private sector.
	Detailed design work and financial analysis is ongoing with a view to obtaining the necessary approvals for this scheme by the summer.

Fire Authority (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make provision for district council representation on the Fire Authority in Lancashire.

Nick Raynsford: The Lancashire Combined Fire Authority comprises of 25 councillors representing Lancashire County and the Unitary Authorities of Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. There are no proposals to alter the composition of the Authority.

Fire Deaths (Leicester, South)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths in dwellings in Leicester, South there were in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: This information is not published at constituency level. Fire statistics are compiled by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for each fire and rescue authority. In this case, Leicester, South's fires and casualties are reported as part of the Leicestershire total.
	Figures supplied by the Leicestershire fire and rescue service are tabled as follows:
	
		Fire related deaths in dwellings: Leicester, South constituency, 1997 to date
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 1 
			 1998 2 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 (to date) 0

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's estimate is of the (a) capital and (b) start-up cost of the Firelink communications system.

Nick Raynsford: This information is commercially sensitive. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is conducting an open competition under EU procurement procedures for the Firelink contract, with a view to letting a contract by mid 2005. The imperative is to run a fair and open competition in order to deliver best value for money for the public purse.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has given to fire and rescue authorities regarding retention of skilled fire control staff in the period up to the introduction of regional fire control centres in 2007–08.

Nick Raynsford: Fire and Rescue Authorities are the employers of control staff and are best placed to understand what is required to retain them. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has provided draft guidance to the Employers' Organisation, which they may wish to use. It has also indicated a willingness to fund sensible retention programmes devised by local Fire and Rescue Authorities taking into account the proximity of the location of existing controls to the RCC, the local employment market and other local conditions, and provided for the first element of those costs in 2005–06 under new burdens" principles.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the capital receipt that would be achieved from the sale of radio spectrum released by the fire and rescue services upon completion of the Firelink Project.

Nick Raynsford: The sale of spectrum is a matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.

Fire Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent studies his Department has commissioned on fire services.

Nick Raynsford: The following sets out recent studies (commissioned in this financial year) that were commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on fire services (or their work):
	A study to standardise terminology used by police and fire services.
	A study to examine the potential for a low cost suppression system for the domestic environment.
	A study to explore Fire and Rescue Service experiences of implementing key components of the Integrated Personal Development System (IPDS).
	A study to establish and assess the range of interventions currently available at rehabilitating known or suspected arsonists, or aim to prevent a young child's interest in fire from developing into more serious fire-setting behaviour.
	A study commissioned a specialist consultant to review existing materials relating to fire investigation standards/protocols, and to devise new standards for fire investigation applicable to all professionals who investigate fires (eg fire, forensic service, Ministry of Defence fire services etc.).
	A survey of retained duty system personnel working to establish their main or primary employment and the extent to which their current employers support them in taking time off work to undertake retained duties.
	A study to evaluate the work of the Community Fire Safety Innovation Fund in its first two years.
	The Building Disaster Assessment Group commissioned three elements of work to further inform fire and rescue service operating procedures. These are (a) the development of computer programme to inform personnel of the pressures and flows available for dry rising fire mains in tall buildings, (b) an initial review of the performance of externally located systems for measuring core body temperature, and (c) formal agreement with the Australasian Fire Authorities Council on the joint development of a fire brigade intervention model.
	A scoping study to define requirements for the development of decision making support tools for incidents involving hazardous materials.
	A study to examine the effectiveness of casualty showering as a decontamination process for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.
	A joint study between the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) evaluation of personal protective equipment (PPE), including the FRS gas tight suit.

Fire Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighters were (a) wounded and (b) killed on duty in (i) 2004 and (ii) each of the previous seven years.

Nick Raynsford: The latest available information reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by fire and rescue services via the FDR1 return is in the following table:
	
		Firefighter casualties incurred while fighting fires in England, 1997–2003
		
			  Fatal casualties Non fatal casualties(175) 
		
		
			 1997 0 538 
			 1998 0 509 
			 1999 0 499 
			 2000 0 428 
			 2001 0 375 
			 2002 1 336 
			 2003(176) 0 361 
		
	
	(175) Excludes precautionary checks
	(176) Provisional
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service returns to ODPM
	From others sources; there were two firefighter fatalities reported in 2004. Full information on non fatal injuries to firefighters in 2004 is not available at present.

Fire Service

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the impact his proposed regional reorganisation of the fire service will have on services in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service operates under the direction of a Fire and Rescue Authority made up of elected councillors from York and North Yorkshire. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to change these arrangements.

Fires (Romford)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the statistics on recorded fires in Romford in each of the last five years.

Nick Raynsford: This information is not held centrally. Fire statistics are compiled by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for each Fire and Rescue Authority. In this case, Romford's fires are reported as part of the London total.
	The London Safety Plan (figures prepared by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority) lists the number of fires in Havering on an annual average based on a five year period (1999–2000 to 2003–04) as 1,585.

Government Building Projects

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Government-funded building projects are under construction in (a) Romford and (b) Essex.

Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Homelessness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many homeless families with children were living in bed and breakfast accommodation on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of homeless people in bed and breakfast accommodation are families with children.

Yvette Cooper: Local authorities report their activities under homelessness legislation quarterly, and this includes the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation, either following acceptance by the local authority as homeless, or pending a decision an their application, on the last day of the quarter. Bed and breakfast style accommodation involving the shared use of bathroom and kitchen facilities is separately distinguished.
	The following table shows the number of homeless households in B and B type accommodation as at 31 March in each of the past three years, how many contained dependent children and/or an expectant mother and how many of the households with children had been resident for more than six weeks in B and B. Also shown are the numbers on 30 September 2004, the latest quarter for which figures are available. The September figures were reported in the Statistical Release on statutory homelessness for the third quarter of 2004, published on 14 December; copies are available in the Library of the House, and on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.
	
		Homeless households(177) in B and B type accommodation, England
		
			   Of which: with dependent children(178) 
			 As at: Total Total Resident for six weeks or more(179) 
		
		
			 31 March 2002 11,840 6,730 — 
			 31 March 2003 12,070 4,800 2,770 
			 31 March 2004 7,170 830 30 
			 30 September 2004 7,400 1,370 190 
		
	
	(177) Households in B and B type accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting re-allocation of a settled home following acceptance.
	(178) Includes households that contain an expectant mother.
	(179) Data collected from December 2002.
	Source:
	ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly)

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless families there were in each Greater London borough in each of the last seven years.

Keith Hill: Local authorities report their activities under homelessness legislation quarterly. Information on the number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need during the quarter and the number of these that contain dependent children, together with the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation as on the last day of the quarter and how many of these contain dependent children, as reported by the London boroughs for the past seven years, has been placed in the Library of the House.
	After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. As an alternative to temporary accommodation an authority may arrange for a household to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	Quarterly Statistical Releases on statutory homelessness published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister include information on acceptances, and households in temporary accommodation, at local authority level in an associated Supplementary Table. The latest Release of, 13 December, and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Homelessness

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many families with children were housed in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks in Sefton in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many homeless families have been housed in bed and breakfast accommodation in Sefton in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported by Sefton district council about the number of homeless households in bed and breakfast style accommodation as at 31 March of each year since 1997 is tabled as follows. The number of households containing dependent children or an expectant mother has been collected since March 2002, and the number of these resident in B&B for longer than six weeks has been collected since December 2002.
	
		Households in Bed and Breakfast style temporary accommodation arranged by Sefton MBC under homelessness legislation, as at the end of March
		
			   Of which: with dependent children(181) 
			  All households Total Of which: resident longer than 6 weeks 
		
		
			 1997 0 0 0 
			 1998 0 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 
			 2002 0 0 0 
			 2003 0 0 0 
			 2004 3 3 0 
		
	
	(180) Households in B&B accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting re-allocation of a settled home following Acceptance.
	(181) Households containing dependent children and/or an expectant mother.
	Source:
	ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly).

Homelessness

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many rough sleepers there were in Crosby in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The number of rough sleepers within each local authority in England have been collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since 1998. Figures for Sefton MBC, which includes Crosby, are tabled as follows:
	
		Rough sleepers for Sefton MBC
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 21 
			 1999 21 
			 2000 17 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 0 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)

Housing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will ask the Housing Corporation to issue updated guidance on the use of ground 8, schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 following Lord Justice Dyson's concluding remarks in the case of North British Housing Association v. Snaith.

Keith Hill: The regulatory circular Tenancy Management: Eligibility and Evictions" issued by the Housing Corporation in July 2004 contains clear guidance about the corporation's expectations of registered social landlords (RSLs) (more commonly known as housing associations) in dealing with eviction and in particular housing benefit. The guidance states
	'Possession proceedings for rent arrears should not be started against a tenant who can demonstrate that they have (1) a reasonable expectation of eligibility for housing benefit; (2) provided the local authority with all the evidence required to process a housing benefit claim; (3) paid required personal contributions towards the charges. Associations should make every effort to establish effective ongoing liaison with housing benefit departments and to make direct contact with them before taking enforcement action. A certificate should be obtained, if possible, to confirm that there are no outstanding benefit enquires, according to Department of Work and Pensions good practice guidance'.
	The Housing Corporation expects RSLs as a matter of course to make continued contact with local authority housing benefit departments before and during enforcement action. It is in an RSL's interest to collect the rent that is owed to it.
	The Civil Justice Council is working with the Department of Constitutional Affairs to issue a pre-action protocol for possessions cases. If introduced, then it would require social landlords to have carried out all the actions contained within before a court will hear a possessions case. In addition the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is leading on a cross-Whitehall group on possessions and evictions which includes the Housing Corporation. We are clear that possession should be a last resort and intend to issue good practice guidance later this year which will set out the steps we would expect landlords to take in order to avoid possession action wherever possible.

Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many residential properties have been built in each Lancashire district in each of the last five years.

Keith Hill: The annual numbers of new build completions reported for each of the authorities in Lancashire since 1999–2000 are in the following table.
	
		New build completions
		
			 Number 
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Blackburn and Darwen 312 524 400 407 347 
			 Blackpool 149 227 521 206 141 
			 Burnley 249 260 96 77 132 
			 Chorley 467 412 404 464 385 
			 Fylde 244 241 184 248 327 
			 Hyndburn 212 178 143 164 169 
			 Lancaster 335 284 172 459 500 
			 Pendle 190 207 272 159 158 
			 Preston 274 360 401 82 289 
			 Ribble Valley 133 198 172 187 226 
			 Rossendale 133 59 148 158 208 
			 South Ribble 428 237 330 523 269 
			 West Lancashire 330 340 274 411 256 
			 Wyre 324 493 398 368 381 
		
	
	Source: Returns (P2) to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on building control completions

Housing

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authority-owned properties in Leicester, South do not meet the Government's decent homes standard; and what the estimated cost of bringing them up to this standard is.

Keith Hill: The information requested is submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister according to local authority districts rather than by parliamentary constituency. In their Business Plan Statistical Appendix Leicester reported that 11,350 local authority-owned properties did not meet the Government's decent homes standard at April 2004.
	Leicester reported that it would cost £68 million to bring these dwellings up to the standard. This covers the cost to bring existing non-decent dwellings up to the decent homes standard, but does not cover work to prevent currently decent dwellings from falling into non-decency.

Housing

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of Leicester, South Housing Association homes are fitted with (a) smoke alarms, (b) fire doors and (c) double glazing.

Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Housing Associations are regulated by the Housing Corporation, which is a non-departmental public body which in turn is sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Housing Corporation does not keep the detailed information requested.

Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what help his Department gives to those people who need rented housing when the relevant council lists are very long and the relevant housing associations have closed lists.

Keith Hill: In England housing authorities are responsible for setting their own allocation policies and procedures. However, they must ensure that their allocation scheme is framed so as to give reasonable preference to certain categories of persons. The categories are set out in s167 (2) of the Housing Act 1996 and are designed to ensure that priority for the allocation of social housing is given to those in the greatest housing need.
	The Government recognise, however, that in some areas of the country there is a great demand for social housing resulting in long waiting lists; to alleviate this we have secured funding in the Spending Review 2004 which will, along with efficiency improvements, produce 75,000 new social homes for rent by 2008.
	Homes for All" sets out the Government's agenda to increase choice and opportunity for tenants. It makes clear that the Government are keen to encourage the extension of choice based lettings to cover low cost home ownership options and properties for rent from private landlords, as well as social housing.
	The Government believe that the private rented sector is an important resource in meeting housing need. Homes for All" states that the Government will improve access to the private rented sector for households who might otherwise face homelessness, through schemes that provide rent deposits, guarantees or rent in advance, or which offer approved lettings with accredited private landlords.
	Homes for All" also outlines our plans to help 80,000 people get a foot on the property ladder, through our First Time Buyers Initiative and other low cost home ownership schemes.

Housing Standards

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will adopt the EcoHomes very good standard within his proposed sustainable building code.

Phil Hope: The Senior Steering Group overseeing the development of the Code for Sustainable Buildings will consider how best to build upon all relevant existing assessment methods, including EcoHomes and its very good" standard.

Housing Standards

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what target he has set for new Government-funded housing to meet the EcoHomes very good standard.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to increasing the standard to which all publicly funded housing is built. As of April 2003 all new built homes funded by the Housing Corporation are required to achieve a British Research Establishment (BRE) EcoHomes rating of Pass" as a minimum essential condition of grant and Registered Social Landlords are encouraged to aim for Good". The Housing Corporation intends to increase the minimum requirement to a 'Good' rating from April 2005 with Registered Social Landlords Associations encouraged to aim for the higher 'Very Good' rating from the same date.
	English Partnerships requires that all its developments must achieve a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of Very Good" or better on their mainstream site disposals. This includes residential developments. The Millennium Communities programme, a specific initiative being taken forward by English Partnerships, is working towards the 'Excellent' target

Housing Standards

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what environmental standards he intends to incorporate into the Thames Gateway development.

Keith Hill: In the Thames Gateway, as elsewhere, the Government are committed to the construction of sustainable homes that minimise the impact on climate change.
	Building Regulations set minimum environmental standards for new buildings. The 2002 revision of Building Regulations sets performance standards that mean new dwellings will be around 25 per cent. more energy efficient than before. The Government are currently carrying out a further review of Part L of Building Regulations and new standards will come into effect by the end of 2005.
	The Government are committed to raising the environmental standards to which publicly funded housing is built. All new homes funded by the Housing Corporation, including those in the Thames Gateway, will be required to achieve a BRE EcoHomes Good" rating from April 2005.
	The Government are developing a new Code for Sustainable Buildings to establish higher standards for energy and water efficiency, waste and use of materials than the minimum standards in Building Regulations. This will be taken forward in demonstration schemes in the Thames Gateway before being rolled out nationally.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister came into existence as a Government Department in May 2002.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has spent the following on its in-house magazine since 2002:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 29,710 
			 2003–04 48,204 
			 2004–05 37,002 
		
	
	The magazine aims to communicate key Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's news and policy issues to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's staff both centrally and in the Government Offices for the Regions. It includes a range of articles, from short news pieces detailing policy announcements and internal events, to more in depth articles highlighting and sharing good practice in delivery on the ground.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Office in each year since 1997; and how much the Office spent on each in each year.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Separate expenditure figures for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister while subsumed within the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions and Cabinet Office are not available for previous years. The total expenditure by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (C) for the period from formation until 23 December 2004 was £429,000. to the nearest £1,000. This figure can be split between newspapers and periodicals only at disproportionate cost.
	With effect from 1 November 2004, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's central publications acquisitions service ceased operation and responsibility for purchases was transferred to individual Divisions within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as part of its commitment to greater efficiency. Although expenditure information can still be obtained for the whole of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, information on titles purchased is only available centrally for those titles ordered or on active subscription as at 31 October 2004. The current list has been made available in the Library of the House. The list of titles includes those titles taken by the Department for Transport, to whom the central acquisitions services was also provided. Extracting listings for individual Departments can be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Office and its predecessors spent on (a) stationery and (b) office supplies in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002 and figures for previous years are unavailable. The spend shown does not include figures from the Government Offices. The available spend information is tabled as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Stationery Office supplies 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,438,559.68 275,434.26 
			 2003–04 1,482,321.29 163,885.46 
			 2004–05 (to date) 688,071.88 154,419.16

Key Worker Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his plans for developing homes for key workers on public sector land will include greenfield or green belt development; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Proposals for key worker homes will be subject to planning policies and procedures in the normal way. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's planning policies for housing set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing" gives priority to reusing suitable brownfield land in preference to the development of greenfield. The Government does not rule out sustainable greenfield development if it is necessary to meet a justified housing need. Planning policies for the Green Belt set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2: Green Belts", which include the general presumption against inappropriate development in the Green Belt, will also apply in any case where development on Green Belt land is proposed.
	Much of the surplus public sector land that has been identified for affordable housing by the Government is brownfield.

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate the Government has made of the cost of local government inspection to local government.

Nick Raynsford: There are no agreed or reliable figures to calculate indirect costs of inspections to local government (e.g. staff time).

Local Government

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the establishment and implementation of local authority call centres.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not received any specific representations on this issue.

Local Government

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost of establishing and running local authority call centres has been in each year for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what measures his Department uses to assess the (a) cost-effectiveness and (b) efficiency of local authority call centres in terms of local service delivery;
	(2)  what the total Government investment into local authority call centres has been; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of local authority call centres on the improvement of local service delivery; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effect of local authority call centres on local service delivery costs; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made any specific investments in or appraisals of local authority call centres. Many individual local authorities will, however, have invested their own resources in developing call centres where these demonstrate an effective way of meeting local priorities. This development will often have been supplemented with funds provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to support their overall e-government development programme. Local authorities recognise the contribution effective initial contact can make to efficient service delivery.

Local Government

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many directives his Department has issued to local authorities regarding local authority call centres in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not issued any specific directives regarding local authority call centres.

Local Government

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the funding arrangements for local authority call centres; and what estimate he has made of the impact of this funding on (a) local government budgets and (b) council tax.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not make any specific funding available for local authority call centres.

Local Government Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of balances his Department assesses as reasonable for each of the tiers of local authorities to retain in their budgets; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: It is for each local authority to decide for itself the level of balances it should hold in the light of the financial risks and circumstances affecting it. In doing so members should take account of the views of their chief finance officer, in accordance with section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003. It would not therefore be appropriate for central Government to specify reasonable levels of balances for tiers of local authorities.

Local Government Finance

Michael Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the change in the per capita grant was for (a) Worcestershire and (b) Worcester City between (i) 1993–94 and 1997–98 and (ii) 1997–98 and 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: The per capita grant for Hereford and Worcester between 1993–94 and 1997–98 showed a decrease of 38 per head. Hereford & Worcester authority was abolished on 31 March 1998. The change in per capita grant for Worcestershire between 1998–99 and 2004–05 was an increase of £233 per head.
	The per capita grant for Worcester City increased by £2 per head between 1993–94 and 1997–98 and between 1997–98 and 2004–05 increased by £21 per head.

Local Government Finance

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what population statistics he relied upon in setting the revenue support grant for Stafford borough council for 2005–06; and what representations he has received about the accuracy of those statistics.

Nick Raynsford: The 2005–06 Revenue Support Grant was calculated using the 2003 mid-year population estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). During the consultation period, representations were received from 17 local authorities plus the Association of London Government (ALG) commenting on the accuracy of the population estimates.

Local Government Finance

Andy Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) cash and (b) percentage funding variance of Leicestershire county council from the county council (i) Standard Spending Assessment and (ii) Education Funding Assessment average was in each year between 1998 and 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Total standard spending assessment/total formula spending share 
			  Leicestershire Average shire county Change from average Percentage change from average 
		
		
			 1998–99 352.825 416.951 -64.126 -15.4 
			 1999–2000 371.945 438.818 -66.873 -15.2 
			 2000–01 390.321 461.008 -70.686 -15.3 
			 2001–02 410.978 483.929 -72.951 -15.1 
			 2002–03 410.854 491.364 -80.510 -16.4 
			 2003–04 480.995 569.310 -88.315 -15.5 
			 2004–05 489.279 587.804 -98.525 -16.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Education standard spending assessment/education formula spending share 
			  Leicestershire Average shire county Change from average Percentage change from average 
		
		
			 1998–99 215.261 244.681 -29.420 -12.0 
			 1999–2000 228.194 258.399 -30.205 -11.7 
			 2000–01 241.044 272.584 -31.541 -11.6 
			 2001–02 255.752 287.793 -32.041 -11.1 
			 2002–03 247.670 285.698 -38.028 -13.3 
			 2003–04 278.946 319.900 -40.954 -12.8 
			 2004–05 294.246 337.564 -43.318 -12.8 
		
	
	Interpreting this information is difficult. It is complicated by the fact that shire counties differ considerably with respect to the number of people for which services are provided. For this reason amounts per head are often used to compare one authority against another. An equivalent table showing amounts per head is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Total standard spending assessment per head/total formula spending share per head 
			  Leicestershire Average shire county Change from average Percentage change from average 
		
		
			 1998–99 590.71 627.09 -36.38 -5.8 
			 1999–2000 620.05 655. 72 -35.68 -5.4 
			 2000–01 651.92 685.34 -33.42 -4.9 
			 2001–02 677.29 714.25 -36.95 -5.2 
			 2002–03 672. 18 721.15 -48.97 -6.8 
			 2003–04 788.16 842.01 -53.85 -6.4 
			 2004–05 794.94 864.98 -70.04 -8.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Education standard spending assessment per head/education formula spending share per head 
			  Leicestershire Average shire county Change from average Percentage change from average 
		
		
			 1998–99 360.40 368.00 -7.60 -2.1 
			 1999–2000 380.41 386.12 -5.72 -1.5 
			 2000–01 402.59 405.23 -2.63 -0.7 
			 2001–02 421.48 424.76 -3.28 -0.8 
			 2002–03 405.20 419.30 -14.10 -3.4 
			 2003–04 457.08 473.13 -16.05 -3.4 
			 2004–05 478.07 496.74 -18.67 -3.8

Local Government Finance

Michael Fallon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total amount of (a) council tax raised by and (b) central Government grant paid to Sevenoaks district council was in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 2003–04.

Nick Raynsford: The information is as follows:
	(a) Sevenoaks district council set a council tax requirement (excluding parish precepts) of £2.860 million for 1996–97 and £6.308 million for 2003–04.
	(b) Sevenoaks district council received £6.860 million in revenue grants for 1996–97. The budgeted figure for 2003–04 was £6.740 million. These figures are as reported by the local authority and include special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance, revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.
	Because of changes in local authority responsibilities in the intervening period, such comparisons are not statistically valid.

Local Government Finance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the practicalities of introducing a local income tax whose rates could be varied by county, district and parish councils; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Local income tax (LIT) was one of the options for the reform of local government funding in England considered by the Balance of Funding Review which reported in July 2004. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House. Working papers of the review are available on the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	In looking at LIT, the review found that there are a number of potentially serious risks and disadvantages that would need to be considered in detail, including the potential additional costs that the system could impose. A LIT could be potentially complex to administer and its effects on individuals or employers would also need to be examined with great care. The review concluded that council tax should be retained but reformed and that any further work on LIT should proceed on the basis that it is a supplement to, not a replacement for, council tax.
	The Government agreed with the review's conclusion that council tax should be retained but reformed. It has appointed Sir Michael Lyons to undertake an independent inquiry that will consider, in the light of the report by Balance of Funding Review, the detailed case for changes to the present system of local government funding and make recommendations on any changes that are necessary and how to implement them. The inquiry will, among other things, conduct thorough analysis of options other than council tax for local authorities to raise supplementary revenue, including LIT, reform of non-domestic rates and other possible local taxes and charges, as well as the possible combination of such options. Sir Michael will report by the end of 2005.

Millennium Dome

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will commission an external valuation of the Government's remaining interest in the Millennium Dome site, including the current value of its future expected receipts under the sale contract.

Keith Hill: Independent formal valuations and valuation advice, by retained professionals, have been obtained by English Partnerships as a matter of course throughout the entire sale process in respect of land on the Greenwich Peninsula, and similar advice will continue to be taken on a regular basis as the developments are delivered over time. Appropriate protections and mechanisms are built into the contracts between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Ltd. and Anschutz Entertainment Group to ensure that English Partnerships receives value from money from the transaction, as was verified by the recently published report from the National Audit Office. Regular valuations of English Partnerships' landholdings will also be undertaken as part of English Partnerships' corporate responsibilities to report to Parliament, in its annual report and accounts, the value of assets held.

Northern Way

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to section C9 of Moving Forward: The Northern Way, First Growth Strategy Report, if he will list (a) the total number of houses proposed for demolition in each local authority area and (b) the streets where demolition s proposed.

Keith Hill: The Northern Way is an independently chaired, Regional Development Agency-led initiative. Moving Forward: The Northern Way" First Growth Strategy Report is a publication of its steering group. The report makes no proposals for the demolition of houses.
	It is an essential pillar of the strategy that people living in the north, and the people the Northern Way Steering Group want to attract to the north, have real quality and diversity in housing that not only accommodates their needs when starting out but also provides real choice when they begin to prosper and their families grow.
	The Northern Way Steering Group have made it clear that any proposals will be taken forward by working with the Regional Housing Boards and through the Regional Spatial Strategies, which are subject to formal consultation processes with stakeholders, at which heritage and conservation issues can be fully explored.

Parish Councils (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage increase in the parish council precept in each parish council area in Chorley has been since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: Information on amounts of council tax precepted by individual parish and town councils is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. The information requested should be available from Chorley borough council.

Park Homes

Annette Brooke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will require local authorities which implement the six metre rule on park homes to make appropriate grants to the owners of such park homes; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: No. It is for a local authority to decide whether to impose the six metre rule as a site licence condition and to decide whether to enforce a site owner to comply with any condition. The cost of compliance is normally met by the site owner who may seek to recover his costs from residents as part of the pitch fee review.
	Under the park home provisions in the Housing Act 2004 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is to lay secondary legislation on the pitch fee reviews. These provisions are expected to come into force in July 2005.

Planning Advisory Service

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) estimated yearly expenditure of the Planning Advisory Service.

Keith Hill: The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) supports local planning authorities across England in improving their performance and promotes good practice. It also offers direct support to individual authorities to help them deliver key Government objectives, such as large-scale regeneration projects.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has allocated £1.5 million to PAS in 2004–05, and £2 million in 2005–06.

Planning Appeals

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the longest time taken for the Planning Inspectorate to consider an individual appeal was, in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		Longest time taken to determine an appeal
		
			  Weeks 
		
		
			 1998–99 117 
			 1999–2000 147 
			 2000–01 138 
			 2001–02 271 
			 2002–03 127 
			 2003–04 151 
			 1 April to 31 December 2004 205 
		
	
	Information prior to 1998–99 is not readily available.
	It is common practice for an applicant for planning approval, having had permission refused and having submitted an appeal, to submit an amended application to the local planning authority and to ask the Inspectorate for the determination of the initial appeal to be delayed. If the amended application is also turned down by the local planning authority, both appeals are determined together.
	So far as can be ascertained, the appeals listed were linked to and decided with subsequent appeals. This would have been done at the request of the appellant.

Policy Initiatives

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) reports, (b) strategies, (c) five-year plans and (d) 10 year plans he has launched in his role as Deputy Prime Minister or Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions have published reports, strategies and plans reflecting the wide range of their responsibilities. Most recently this has included two five year plans: Sustainable Communities: Homes for All" and Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity". Together these plans show how the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will take forward its agenda of creating sustainable communities, first described in the 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan". A full list of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's publications is available on its website at http://www.publications.odpm.gov.uk/.

Polytunnels

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether under planning policy guidance polytunnels which are placed on the same agricultural land each year for several months, while being removed during winter months, constitute a permanent fixture requiring full planning permission.

Keith Hill: It is for the local planning authority to decide if placing any structure on farmland would amount to development. Even where a polytunnel is regarded as development, it is likely to benefit from the general permission granted in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has issued no guidance on polytunnels as such, but we do encourage farmers always to have regard to the impact of their work on the environment.

Queen's Flight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  on how many occasions his Department's Ministers used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years;
	(2)  how much money his Department has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Yvette Cooper: Travel by Ministers" makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Assemblies

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has issued to regional assemblies on holding meetings in different locations around the region.

Nick Raynsford: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not issued any guidance on where regional assemblies should hold meetings.

Regional Referendums

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1087W on regional referendums, if he will place in the Library copies of the research undertaken on (a) the Your Say Information Campaign and (b) other groups' campaigns relating to the regional referendum in the north-east.

Nick Raynsford: Copies of the research conducted on the Your Say Information Campaign have been made available in the Library of the House This research was conducted by NOP World and was designed to measure the effect of the information campaign in raising awareness of the referendums.
	Six quantitative studies were undertaken between October 2003 and September 2004. These studies were undertaken in all three northern regions, with the exception of the last study, which was only undertaken in the north-east. In addition, a qualitative study was undertaken in October 2003 and June 2004 in all three regions.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold any research relating to any other groups' campaigns.

Regional Spatial Strategies

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with each of the English regions with regard to their spatial strategies concerning (a) key priorities, (b) resources required and (c) time scales for delivery; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions (a) his Department and (b) Government Offices have had with regional assemblies in England on the preparation of their spatial strategies with particular reference to developing freight infrastructure.

Keith Hill: Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) were put on a statutory basis by section 1(1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The final version of any Regional Spatial Strategy revision is approved and issued by the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.
	The Regional Planning Body (RPB) is required to work in consultation and cooperation with the Government office (GO) in the development of the RSS. The RPB should for example, agree the project plan with the GO which will include key priorities and timescales for delivery. It is good practice for the RPB to work closely with the GO in preparing the draft revision, although care needs to be taken to ensure that ownership of the emerging RSS rests clearly with the RPB until the point at which the revised draft RSS is submitted to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister. The Government office can advise on issues to be addressed in the revision and the application of national policy. This could include working in liaison with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Transport to inform the development of the transport aspects of the Regional Spatial Strategy.
	A number of Government offices have been involved with Regional Assemblies, Regional Development Agencies and local stakeholders to develop regional freight strategies to inform the development of Regional Transport Strategies.
	The Regional Assemblies are required to produce rolling medium-term business plans for three financial years, setting out for year one their proposed activities including priorities and timescales for delivery of the RSS for the year in question and providing forward projections for years two and three. Business plans are submitted to the Government office for consideration, and inform the level of resources required for the relevant financial year.

Regional Spatial Strategies

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he plans to take when the consultation process on the South East Spatial Strategy is complete; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The South East England Regional Assembly is currently consulting on spatial options for future development in the south east region. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects it to submit the draft south east plan by late 2005. Thereafter it will tested by an independent panel. It would not be right for us to pre-empt the outcome of this process. Therefore Government will not make a statement at this stage.

Rent Harmonisation

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what he expects the average change to council tenant rents will be when the measures designed to increase harmonisation between council and housing association tenants come into effect.

Keith Hill: At this stage the effect on council rents is unknown. The plans are being reviewed in response to concerns raised following the consultation over the summer of 2004. As they stood, those proposals would have had the effect of increasing the average rent by £0.36 per week beyond that planned under the existing policy.

Rent Harmonisation

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reason rent harmonisation measures for council and housing association rents have been postponed until the end of 2005.

Keith Hill: The decision was taken to postpone the introduction of the proposals after concerns were raised over the accuracy of some of the property valuation data, and the impact this would have had on rent levels.
	These concerns are being investigated and, subject to a further consultation period, the revised proposals will be introduced in time for the 2006–07 financial year.

Roadside Advertising

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Government policy is on commercial advertising alongside motorways and major roads.

Keith Hill: Local planning authorities are responsible for the control of outdoor advertisements and have powers to take enforcement action against any advertisements displayed unlawfully. Before giving consent for an advertisement to be displayed, local planning authorities must consider amenity and public safety aspects. Prior consent from the owner of the land is also required. Advertisements which are likely to distract motorists on a motorway or major road are unlikely to be approved.

Roadside Advertising

Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether his Department maintains records of temporary wheeled billboards placed next to motorways; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what provisions there are for temporary wheeled billboards placed next to motorways to be removed where they are judged to be a distraction to drivers;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the potential for distraction by temporary wheeled billboards being placed next to motorways.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not maintain records of temporary wheeled billboards placed next to motorways. Research carried out into causes of road accidents has considered the effect of advertisements alongside motorways and trunk roads but the results have not been conclusive.
	Local planning authorities have enforcement powers they can use to remove unlawfully displayed advertisements.

Sand Reserves

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2005, Official Report, column 1586W, on sand reserves, how much of the 3.2 million tonnes of sand released under the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan has been taken; what estimate he has made of how long the sand at the existing permitted reserves will last; whether a full survey has been carried out to establish the total sand reserves in Lancashire; and how much sand will be needed for the next 10 years for Lancashire in accordance with revised Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6.

Keith Hill: None of the 3.2 million tonnes of sand required to be released by the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan has been extracted since the plan was adopted. All production has been from reserves which already had planning permission at the time of adoption. Two applications for sand extraction have been submitted recently and await determination—one is near St. Michaels on Wyre, in Wyre borough, and the other is at Adlington in Chorley borough.
	The existing permitted reserves of sand in Lancashire amount to £3.54 million tonnes. At the present rates of production, these reserves would last for seven years.
	Stage 1 of a Sand and Gravel Study, undertaken by planning consultants and the British Geological Survey on behalf of the Lancashire joint authorities, has recently been completed. It identifies potential areas of high grade sand deposits within the county for further investigation in stage 2 to be conducted later this year.
	The revised Mineral Planning Guidance Note 6 require the north-west to provide 55 million tonnes of land-won sand and gravel over the period 2001 to 2016. Lancashire's share of this total is 8.2 million tonnes, which equates to 5 million tonnes in a 10-year period.

Social Exclusion Unit

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of the Social Exclusion Unit was in the last year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1088W to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner).

Social Housing

David Willetts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of the working age population who are (a) economically active and (b) economically inactive are social housing tenants.

Keith Hill: Based on Labour Force Survey results for spring 2004 it is estimated that, of household reference persons 1 in England of working age:
	11 per cent. of those who were economically active were social housing tenants.
	47 per cent. of those who were economically inactive were social housing tenants.
	1 Previously referred to as heads of household.

Social Housing

David Willetts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social housing tenants there are; and how many are (a) employed, (b) unemployed and (c) economically active, broken down by age and gender.

Keith Hill: Using data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) it is estimated that in spring 2004 there were approximately 3,782,000 social housing tenancies in England.
	The following table provides a breakdown of these households on the basis of the economic status, age and gender of the household reference persons for households living in social housing.
	
		Thousand
		
			  Economic activity of household reference persons for households in social housing 
			 Sex/age Employed Unemployed Economically active Retired Other inactive Not known Total 
		
		
			 Male
			 16–24 31 7 38 0 14 2 53 
			 25–34 116 23 139 0 59 6 204 
			 35–44 168 34 202 1 82 6 290 
			 45–64 239 31 271 15 257 12 554 
			 65 or over 24 2 26 492 35 1 554 
			 Total 578 97 675 507 447 27 1,656 
			 
			 Female
			 16–24 50 16 66 0 91 1 158 
			 25–34 151 24 175 0 194 4 373 
			 35–44 200 30 231 0 194 4 428 
			 45–64 179 19 198 52 209 4 463 
			 65 or over 10 0 10 693 0 1 705 
			 Total 590 90 680 745 688 13 2,126 
			 
			 All 1,168 187 1,355 1,252 1,135 40 3,782 
		
	
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Social Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) housing association tenants and (b) local authority tenants (i) have and (ii) do not have the right to buy in the Chorley constituency; and how many properties have been sold in each of the last five years.

Keith Hill: At 1 April 2003, there were around 2,800 housing association tenants in Chorley. It is not possible to say exactly how many of these have the right to buy their rented homes.
	In England, around 50 per cent. of housing association tenants qualify for the right to buy or the preserved right to buy. The right to buy is available to pre-1988 secure tenants of non-charitable housing associations. Housing association properties were generally let on secure tenancies until 1988, but all new lettings since then have been on assured tenancies which do not include the right to buy. In addition, tenants of former local authority housing stock that has been transferred to housing associations retain a preserved right-to-buy.
	At 1 April 2003, there were around 3,200 local authority tenants in Chorley. The majority of these have the right to buy their homes. Secure tenants of local authorities (ie, the majority of local authority tenants) have the right to buy.
	Tenants must have spent at least two years as a public sector tenant to qualify for the right to buy. The Housing Act 2004 increases the qualification period to five years for new tenancies granted on or after 18 January 2005.
	Right to buy sales in Chorley during the past five years for which figures are available are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 44 
			 2000–01 41 
			 2001–02 52 
			 2002–03 95 
			 2003–04 134

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which ministers were not present;
	(2)  if he will list the speeches his special advisers made in an official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004, broken down by date.

Yvette Cooper: Special advisers attend meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. Information relating to these meetings could be provided only at disproportionate cost. One special adviser has made various speeches on the role of the special adviser at civil service training events.
	All meetings held by special advisers and all speeches given by special advisers are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers."

Staff Surveys

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of staff surveys in the Department and its predecessors was in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002. One staff survey has been conducted since that date, in January 2003. The total cost of the survey, was £57,980 excluding VAT.
	The purpose of the survey was particularly to obtain baseline information to direct the corporate change programme.

Supporting People Grant

Nick Harvey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors underlay the decision to reduce the Supporting People grant; what assessment he has made of the effects of reduction of grant; and what plans he has to consult on the proposed draft distribution formula for this grant.

Yvette Cooper: The Government commissioned an Independent Review into the Supporting People programme following significant late growth in estimated costs from £1.4 billion in December 2002 to £1.8 billion by March 2003. The review reported in January 2004 that there are wide variations in unit costs between authorities and that £1.8 billion was too much to pay for the services provided.
	Reductions in Supporting People programme grant reflect the findings of the Independent Review and subsequent work carried out on value for money including work commissioned into the efficient use of legacy funding and the results of Audit Commission inspections. These studies demonstrate that there is significant potential for making savings in the current pattern of service provision whilst safeguarding valuable services.
	Administering authorities should be using the service review process for identifying and delivering efficiency savings. The Supporting People standards and monitoring team monitor the progress being made by authorities in their service reviews. They also monitor the feedback from the Supporting People Audit Commission Inspections and milestones information from administering authorities.
	We will consult widely on a revised version on the distribution formula later this year.

Supporting People Grant

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons funding for the Supporting People programme in North Yorkshire is to be reduced by 40 per cent. from the 2003–04 level; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that quality of care received by people in North Yorkshire is not adversely affected.

Yvette Cooper: The Government commissioned an Independent Review into the Supporting People programme following significant late growth in estimated costs from £1.4 billion in December 2002 to £1.8 billion by March 2003. The review reported in January 2004 that there are wide variations in unit costs between authorities and that £1.8 billion was too much to pay for the services provided.
	Reductions in Supporting People programme grant reflect the findings of the Independent Review and subsequent work carried out on value for money including work commissioned into the efficient use of legacy funding and the results of Audit Commission inspections. These studies demonstrate that there is significant potential for making savings in the current pattern of service provision whilst safeguarding valuable services.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has taken no decisions about the longer term distribution. A formula for the distribution of Supporting People funding in the longer term is being developed. We are working with local authority representative bodies and will consult widely on a revised version later this year. The extent of the increases or reductions and the rate of which they are introduced are open to further consideration. We will include this issue in the consultation.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will monitor the impact on administering authorities of introducing any new needs based distribution formula.

Terrorist Suspects

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether terrorist suspects subject to house arrest in council housing under the Home Secretary's proposals for detaining suspects without trial will be eligible (a) for the Right-to-Buy scheme, (b) for housing benefit and (c) to vote in ballots on large scale voluntary transfers.

Keith Hill: Full details of how Control Orders will operate will be brought forward in due course. Their precise effect in such cases will need to be assessed once these details are available.

Timber

Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he will take to ensure that environmentally sustainable building materials, with particular reference to sustainable timber, are used in the construction of proposed new homes in London and the South East as outlined in the report, Sustainable Communities: Homes for All.

Phil Hope: The Government are committed to raising the environmental standards to which publicly funded housing is built. All new homes funded by the Housing Corporation will be required to achieve a BRE EcoHomes Good" rating from April 2005. Those delivered by English Partnerships must reach a Very Good" standard.
	We are also committed to delivering new homes in London and the South East, as set out in Homes For All to high environmental and sustainability standards. We will achieve this both through raising building standards and also through the Code for Sustainable Buildings, which will be piloted in the Thames Gateway. In particular, the Code will specify a minimum percentage of timber to be acquired from sources that are independently verified as either legal and sustainable or reclaimed.
	In addition, in pursuance of its objective to establish a Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs aims to establish in 2005 an inquiry point that will help local authorities and other stakeholders to procure legal and sustainable timber.

Tri-service Centres

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the evidential basis was for the statements made at the meeting with Ministers on 13 January (a) that local geographical knowledge of staff in a fire control room was less important than access to computerised gazetteers and (b) that the different business needs of the three services in a Tri-Service Centre are a key implementation barrier.

Nick Raynsford: The 12 fire and rescue services in England which have installed advanced technology and geographical information systems to locate callers and mobilise appliances have demonstrated that local knowledge of individual members of staff is unreliable and of diminishing use. This was stated at the presentation on 13 January by a control room officer who has 25 years of experience of working in four different fire and rescue service control rooms in both urban and rural areas. The requirement to have local knowledge does not form part of the selection criteria for staff so its depth, accuracy and currency are not measurable. It would be unacceptable for the quality of control services to be dependent upon which staff are on duty.
	A joint report in 2001 by the presidents of the professional associations representing the three emergency services, entitled 'Three Distinct Services—Shared Ambitions for a Healthier and Safer Community' states that the operational requirements of the three services are very different and should not be compromised. The report cited different cultures, financial regimes, organisational structures and statutory responsibilities as barriers to joint working and that the emphasis should be on collaboration, not integration. None of the three ISB tri-service projects has yet been able to implement common mobilisation systems. Control room staff in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire have been co-located but continue to work separately.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on (a) relations within the ruling military Junta in Burma and (b) the position of the Junta leader Than Shwe.

Douglas Alexander: Our embassy in Rangoon closely monitors developments in Burma. There have been no changes announced in the senior leadership since October 2004, with the departure of the then Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Burmese regime on reported unrest within the region.

Douglas Alexander: None.
	However, I last met the Burmese ambassador on 29 November and pressed for political reform, full respect for human rights and the need for all groups in Burma, including ethnic nationalities, to play a full part in national reconciliation.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the future of democracy in Burma.

Douglas Alexander: It is essential that the National Convention to draw up a new constitution, which reconvened on 17 February, is an inclusive and transparent process, involving all political parties and ethnic groups in Burma, Without their participation, the process lacks all credibility and the prospects for democracy in Burma will be bleak.
	We remain willing to support a genuine process of national reconciliation leading to the restoration of democracy and full respect for human rights in Burma and we will respond positively to tangible progress.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the statement of the Workshop of ASEAN Parliamentarians in November on the Myanmar Issue.

Douglas Alexander: We fully support the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Parliamentarians' efforts to promote national reconciliation in Burma.
	We believe that all Burma's regional neighbours have a key role to play in encouraging substantive change in Burma.
	We shall continue to work closely with our partners in the region to press the regime to begin a genuine process of reform involving all political parties and ethnic groups. That is the only way to achieve lasting peace and national reconciliation. The prospect of Burmese chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 makes the need for change all the more pressing.
	I met ambassadors from ASEAN on 29 November and underlined the need for political reform and full respect for human rights in Burma.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the UN Human Rights Commission regarding the Government of Burma's treatment of (a) Muslim Rohingya, (b) Christians among the Chin, Kachin, Karen and Karenni ethnic nationalities and (c) Buddhists who do not support the regime.

Douglas Alexander: The UK works closely with its UN partners to promote human rights in Burma, and fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General's Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Professor Sergio Pinheiro, with whom officials remain in close contact.
	Discrimination and persecution on the basis of religious or ethnic background has been condemned in successive UK co-sponsored UN Commission on Human Rights Resolutions on Burma, most recently in April 2004.

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letters dated 1 June 2004, 8 September 2004 and 25 November 2004 from the hon. Member for Brent, East regarding Indonesian Christians and the Indonesian Government's draft Bill on Religious Harmony.

Douglas Alexander: I replied to the letters on Indonesia on 1 February 2005.

Departmental Costs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money his Department has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Jack Straw: The guidance note Travel by Ministers", makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/private charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Library of the House. Information for 2004–05 will be published in due course.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the guidance on Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on entertainment by his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not separately record the information requested by the hon. Member. Analysis of records to produce the information requested could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. However, we do record the total amount spent on entertainment.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 565W, for entertainment costs for 2000–01 and 2001–02. Costs for the years 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2002–03 and 2003–04 are shown as follows. Figures for 1997–98 have not been included, as they were not recorded on the same basis as subsequent years.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 5.69 
			 1999–2000 8.46 
			 2002–03 8.61 
			 2003–04 8.39

Design

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the ministerial design champion for his Department is.

Jack Straw: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Rammell) is the Ministerial Design Champion for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Diplomatic Bags

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of the Department's diplomatic bag service was in 2003–04; and what proportion of that cost is estimated to be related specifically to the delivery of sensitive documents.

Bill Rammell: The cost of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) diplomatic bag service from London to its diplomatic missions overseas for the financial year 2003–04 was £6,317,417 of which 39 per cent. was spent on the classified bag service.
	4.3 per cent. of the total (£269,754) was spent on sensitive documents sent by air freight bag.
	Information on the cost of inward diplomatic bags from our overseas missions to the FCO in London could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Each mission holds a local budget for this expenditure.

EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 13W, on EUIntelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service, if he will list those documents, with security grading and caveat, that have been supplied to the EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service by his Department; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the nature of departmental material that may be supplied.

Denis MacShane: There is no EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service". The EU's Joint Situation Centre does not share or co-ordinate intelligence. The Situation Centre produces analyses and risk assessments, to help formulate EU policy, based on inputs from member states including nationally-assessed material. The Government's policy on release of material was set out in my answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 13W: UK information is released to the Situation Centre on a strict need-to-know basis at classifications up to and including secret.
	It would not be appropriate for the Government to give details of the information which has been released to the centre. Parallel exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act would likely be section 23 (information supplied by, or related to, bodies dealing with security matters), section 24 (national security) and section 27 (international relations).

European Constitution

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to translate the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe into (a) Gaelic and (b) Scots.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no plans to translate the EU constitutional treaty into Gaelic or Scots.

Gaelic Language

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the use of the Gaelic language; and what plans his Department has to prepare and implement a Gaelic language scheme.

Jack Straw: The UK Government have committed themselves to the principles of protecting and promoting specified regional minority languages, including Gaelic, through their ratification of the Council of Europe's European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
	We have no current plans to prepare and implement a Gaelic language scheme for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), but FCO officials, if approached, are ready to work with the Bord na Gàidhlig to explore what scope exists for facilitating the use of the Gaelic language.

GCHQ

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when child care vouchers will be made available to staff at GCHQ; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: GCHQ has committed itself to making child care vouchers available to staff as part of its overall package of benefits. The plan is to introduce child care vouchers as part of a thorough overhaul of the pay system currently being negotiated with the trade union. The intention is to introduce child care vouchers no later than April 2006.

Global Conflict Prevention Pool

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what proportion of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool has been spent on human rights since its inception;
	(2)  what proportion of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool has gone on mine clearance.

Bill Rammell: The Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) was established in 2001. From 2001–02 to 2004–05 £276 million has been allocated to the GCPP strategies. There are 15 regional and thematic GCPP strategies, each running a large number of individual projects.
	The Global Opportunities Fund (GOF) is now the main Foreign and Commonwealth Office vehicle for funding human rights projects. In financial year 2004–05, the GOF is supporting human rights projects worth approximately £13 million, up from about £11 million in 2003–04. We expect this to increase still further in 2005–06.
	The GCPP only funds de-mining and human rights activities if they clearly form an integral part of a conflict prevention strategy. However, the human rights impact of every GCPP project is considered during the project selection process. Specific details relating to de-mining and human rights activities funded under GCPP strategies are not held centrally. As a result, the information could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Haiti

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the security situation in Haiti of MINUSTAH since 1 June 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The security situation in Haiti has improved over recent months, thanks to the deployment of the UN stabilisation force MINUSTAH. MINUSTAH is now operating at full strength, and this should be an important factor in helping to provide the more secure environment needed for Haitian elections at the end of 2005. But further progress is needed—disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration need to be accelerated.

Haiti

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received regarding the killing of police officers in Clercine neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince on 7 February; how many similar incidents have been reported since September 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have received reports on the killing of four police officers in the Clercine neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince on 6 February. Despite improvements since the departure of former President Aristide in February 2004, the security situation in Haiti remains tense. There have been a number of violent incidents over recent months, many of which have involved armed groups of ex-military personnel. The UK has supported the UN's role in providing a stabilisation force, and has lobbied for the disarming of gangs.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) nationalities and (b) identities of the foreign (i) suppliers and (ii) financiers of the Iraqi military procurement programme during Saddam Hussein's regime; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: During the course of UN weapons inspections in the 1990s, the inspection teams did, on occasion, bring to the notice of the Government details of equipment uncovered in Iraq that had been supplied by UK firms. Similarly, Iraq's Full, Final and Complete Declaration produced in December 2002 under UN Security Council Resolution 1441 also listed a number of companies and individuals as suppliers of materials to Iraq. The circumstances surrounding the supply and/or financing of supplies were investigated at the time by the relevant UK authorities and any appropriate action taken.
	The Government have not undertaken any investigation into supplies by, or financing from, companies or individuals from other countries. Any such investigation is the responsibility of the authorities of those countries.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with (a) the US Administration, (b) the Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority and (c) others on the management of reconstruction funds in Iraq (i) prior to the establishment of those funds and (ii) since the report of the US Government auditors; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The UK had discussions with the US Administration and other coalition partners over the text of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1483 of 22 May 2003, which noted the establishment of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) as the account into which Iraq's oil revenues would be paid. Following establishment of the DFI the UK Government had discussions with the US Administration and officials in the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) over the terms of reference for the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), mandated under UNSCR 1483 to oversee the auditing of Iraq's oil revenues and their management by the coalition.
	The UK has not had discussions with the US or Iraqi Administrations following the report into CPA operations and programmes by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR). Under UNSCR 1546 of 8 June 2004, as of the end of the occupation and the dissolution of the CPA on 28 June 2004, control over management of the DFI passed to the Iraqi Administration. UNSCR 1546 also provided for continuation of the IAMB'S oversight function until the Iraqi Government decides otherwise.
	In addition to discussions on the DFI, the UK Government have worked closely with other Governments, the UN and the World Bank over the establishment and management of the UN and World Bank managed International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, which provides a channel for donor country support to the reconstruction of Iraq. The UK Government also have regular discussions with other bilateral donors to promote the co-ordination of international assistance to Iraq.

Iraq

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what percentage of the total Iraqi adult population is estimated to have voted in the recent election;
	(2)  what the official estimate is of the percentage of registered voters who voted in the recent election in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: There has been no recent, reliable population census in Iraq. In preparation for the January elections, around 14 million adult Iraqis were included in a passive registration conducted by the Public Distribution System using Oil for Food Programme records. The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq announced the provisional final election results on 13 February and said that 8.45 million people voted on 30 January, 58 per cent. of the registered voters.

Nepal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the reign of King Gyanendra of Nepal since his coronation in 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: King Gyanendra of Nepal assumed the throne under difficult circumstances, following the massacre of King Birendra and members of the royal family in 2001. During King Gyanendra's reign the conflict with the Maoists has escalated while the security and human rights situations have deteriorated considerably. While we have welcomed the King's stated commitment to multi-party democracy and peace, the shared failure of the King and the political parties to work together to find a common way forward on tackling Nepal's problems has been disappointing. We are deeply concerned by the King's assumption of power on 1 February, which will increase the risk of instability in Nepal and undermine the institutions of democracy and constitutional monarchy in the country.

Nepal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the investigation announced by King Gyanendra of Nepal on 4 June 2001 into the massacre at the royal palace on 1 June 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We welcomed the publication on 14 June 2001 of the investigating commission's report into the massacre of the Nepalese royal family. The terms of reference for the investigating commission were extensive and gave the commission the authority to make a thorough investigation.

Nepal

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will change his advice on travel to Nepal to indicate that travel there is unsafe.

Douglas Alexander: Our Travel Advice has been changed to take account of the situation in Nepal following the King's takeover of power on 1 February. This change reflected our assessment that, given the fairly muted reaction in Nepal to the King's action, it was not necessary at the time to advise against all but essential travel.
	The changes are intended to ensure that the public are aware the country is in a volatile state at present and there is the potential for disturbances. The Travel Advice also urges travellers who decide to go to Nepal to exercise extreme caution and vigilance, especially in and around Kathmandu, until the situation becomes clearer.
	Officials are keeping the situation in Nepal under regular review and will change this travel advice if and when necessary.

Nepal

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with governments of other countries on the safety of travel by their nationals to Nepal.

Douglas Alexander: Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office discusses travel advice issues regularly with our international partners. But our Travel Advice is written ultimately for the benefit of British nationals; other countries' advisories are for their own nationals. We are keeping a very close eye on events in Nepal, but we continue to believe that British nationals are not being specifically targeted. We aim to include the level of detail necessary to allow British nationals to make their own decisions on whether or not to travel to Nepal. We will continue to keep the advice for Nepal under regular review.

Nepal

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his current assessment is of the (a) safety and (b) desirability of travel by British citizens to Nepal; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Our Travel Advice for Nepal is based on an objective assessment of the risks to British nationals at any given time. It is designed to help British travellers make informed decisions and to avoid trouble by providing information on threats to personal safety.
	As our Travel Advice for Nepal makes clear, the country is in a volatile state at present and there is the potential for disturbances following the King's takeover of power. There is a significant risk that there may be violent demonstrations in the weeks to come, especially in Kathmandu and the surrounding valley. Such demonstrations may flare up quickly and with little warning. However, the actual response so far to the King's takeover of power in Nepal on 1 February has been fairly muted and business is still operating much as usual. We have therefore judged that it was not necessary at this stage to advise against all but essential travel.
	We are keeping the situation under regular review and will change this Travel Advice if and when necessary. In the meantime we continue to advise travellers to Nepal to exercise extreme caution and vigilance, especially in and around Kathmandu, until the situation becomes clearer. If the situation in Nepal deteriorates we would change our Travel Advice to reflect this.

Nepal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the King of Nepal's recent political actions.

Douglas Alexander: We have received reporting on recent events in Nepal from our embassy in Kathmandu and through other diplomatic channels as well as from non-governmental organisations and the media. We have also shared assessments with a number of our international partners.

Nepal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Nepal on progress towards democracy, with particular reference to freedom of the press.

Douglas Alexander: The UK has consistently upheld the importance of democracy and democratic institutions in Nepal, including freedom of the press. The King's takeover of power on 1 February seriously undermines Nepal's democratic credentials and we have called for the immediate restitution of multi-party democracy. Since the Palace takeover and the introduction of very strict media censorship, our ambassador in Kathmandu has specifically raised the importance we attach to the freedom of the press with both the King and the Foreign Minister.

Nepal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the call by the Government of Nepal on 7 February for unconditional peace talks with Maoist rebels; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK has consistently held the view that only a negotiated political settlement leading to a democratic outcome will achieve peace, stability and prosperity for Nepal. To that end we welcome calls by the Government of Nepal for unconditional peace talks with the Maoist rebels. However, we have always argued that a successful settlement will require the participation of all interested parties, including the political parties. The King's move to dismiss the Prime Minister and assume power outside the framework of a multi-party democratic system will increase the risk of instability in Nepal and undermine democracy in the country. We have called for the immediate restitution of multi-party democracy in the country.

Nepal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the possibilities for resolving the situation created by the Maoist revolt in Nepal; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK has always argued that a negotiated political settlement involving all the constitutional forces offers the best way to resolve the conflict in Nepal and to create a stable democracy with good governance and respect for human rights. We have always maintained that no wholly military solution will produce an acceptable outcome. This remains our judgment. We will continue to press all parties for an early return to negotiations.

Nepal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on Government control over the media in Nepal since 1 February; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The King of Nepal's takeover of power on 1 February was accompanied by the announcement of a state of emergency, which included a number of draconian measures including strict censorship of the media. The UK has consistently upheld the importance of democracy and democratic institutions in Nepal, including freedom of the press. Since the King's assumption of power our ambassador in Kathmandu has specifically raised the importance we attach to the freedom of the press with both the King and the Foreign Minister.

Staff Identity Passes

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff identity passes are authorised using a computer-based system which was purchased and installed in 2002. The computer is linked to three FCO sites, the FCO Main Building, Old Admiralty Building and Hanslope Park. The identity pass comprises a digital photograph and a unique computer chip. There are currently nearly 12,000 active identity pass holders. 110 identity passes are issued weekly.
	The full cost of producing and issuing an FCO staff identity pass, including staff costs, is £3.36 each.
	Breakdown of FCO identity passes lost or stolen since 1997 based on our existing records is as follows:
	
		
			  Stolen Lost Total 
		
		
			 1997 0 l 1 
			 1998 2 23 25 
			 1999 8 48 56 
			 2000 7 46 53 
			 2001 16 58 74 
			 2002 10 37 47 
			 2003 13 24 37 
			 2004 10 41 51 
			 2005 (As at 4 February 2005) 1 12 13

Swaziland

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Prime Minister of Swaziland on his recent visit to the UK.

Chris Mullin: During the Prime Minister of Swaziland's visit to the UK in early February my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I discussed with him current political developments in Swaziland including constitutional developments and the rule of law; economic developments including the proposed changes to the EU sugar regime; the HIV/Aids pandemic; and the future of British representation in Swaziland.

Swaziland

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the proposed closure of the high commission in Swaziland; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Prime Minister of Swaziland raised the planned closure of the high commission in Mbabane with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and with me during his visit to the UK in early February. There has also been some parliamentary and public interest.

Vietnam

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Vietnam regarding (a) the pre-Christmas mass detention of Montagnard Christians in the Central Highlands and (b) human rights abuses of Montagnards in Vietnam's Central Highlands; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We remain concerned about the situation of the Montagnards in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam.
	Our ambassador in Hanoi visited the Central Highlands on 17–19 January as part of an EU Troika mission to assess the situation on the ground. We are aware of reports of the arrest of Christians over the Christmas period but have not been able to corroborate these reports.
	We raise human rights concerns regularly with the Vietnamese Government, both bilaterally and with our EU partners. These include the problems faced by the Montagnards in the Central Highlands, particularly with regard to land and religious freedom.
	With our other EU partners, we participate in a regular human rights dialogue with Vietnam. The most recent meeting, attended by our ambassador in Hanoi, took place on 17 December. We raised the situation of the Montagnards at this meeting.
	We will continue to raise our concerns and press the Vietnamese Government to adhere to its international human rights obligations at every suitable opportunity.

Vietnam

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Cambodian authorities on (a) the deportation of Montagnard refugees from Vietnam's Central Highlands back to Vietnam and (b) reopening its north eastern border with Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government regularly raises its concerns about ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and refugees from the region with both the Cambodian and Vietnamese authorities. The EU is also active in this area—it has urged the Cambodian Government to comply with its international refugee obligations and to co-operate with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
	Our embassy in Phnom Penh also remains in close contact with the UNHCR. We will continue to encourage the Cambodian and Vietnamese authorities to engage with the UNHCR on the issue.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Asian Tsunami

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the Government provided for aid in the first week after the Asian tsunami.

Hilary Benn: By the 3 January, DFID had allocated £50 million and spent £7.2 million in response to the Indian Ocean Crisis. This comprised £6 million channelled through the World Health Organisation, various non-governmental organisations and a DFID chartered flight carrying relief items, £900,000 in donations in kind, and £250,000 for the International Humanitarian Partnership airlift to establish working environments and communications capability for United Nations staff.

Asian Tsunami

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with UK-based refugee communities from those countries affected by the tsunami concerning the reconstruction efforts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: It is important that the longer-term reconstruction of the regions devastated by the tsunami takes into account the views and needs of the communities affected, and in particular of civil society and vulnerable groups. My right hon. Friend the Secretary for International Development visited the region 6–8 January and spoke to affected communities to better understand their needs, as well as aid agencies operating in the region.
	We have received many representations about our response to the tsunami including from UK-based refugee communities from some of those countries affected and welcome the views of all interested groups, including those based in the UK.
	A co-ordinated international response to the tsunami, led by the Governments affected and organisations such as the UN and the Asian Development Bank, will ensure that the views of the poorest and most vulnerable are taken into account throughout the process of rehabilitation. The Department for International Development (DFID) will work to ensure a focus on helping the poorest people and those often marginalized because of caste, gender, age, ethnicity or religion.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will reply to the letter dated 10 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Oscar Brogdan.

Hilary Benn: Unfortunately, the Department for International Development has no record of having received this letter. If my right hon. Friend would kindly re-send the letter I will ensure that he receives a prompt reply.

Cote d'Ivoire

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to assist refugees from Cote d'Ivoire in (a) Liberia, (b) Guinea, (c) Mali, (d) Burkina Faso and (e) Ghana.

Hilary Benn: In Guinea, DFID has supported the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNICEF to a total of £1 million in 2004 to provide for the care and needs of all refugees residing in camps. We are assessing this support, before deciding on possible additional funding. In Liberia, Ivorian refugees are being assisted by the UNHCR and the World Food Programme. DFID has provided grants totalling £2.1 million to these agencies for their work in Liberia, in 2004. DFID is not providing support to Ivorian refugees in Mali, Burkina Faso or Ghana. DFID understands that the numbers in Mali and Ghana are low. According to UNHCR, 10,000 Burkinabe migrants returned to Burkina Faso, but no Ivorian refugees have been recorded there.

Cote d'Ivoire

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the number of refugees from Cote d'Ivoire that have arrived in (a) Liberia, (b) Guinea, (c) Mali, (d) Burkina Faso and (e) Ghana in each month since September 2003.

Hilary Benn: Monthly disaggregated data of this nature is not readily available. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the agency responsible for registering and monitoring formal cross-border refugee flows, the numbers of Ivorian refugees arriving in these countries since September 2003 have been relatively low. Between January 2004 and September 2004, Mali registered 805 Ivorian refugee arrivals, Guinea registered nine, and none were recorded in the other countries. Following the upsurge in violence in Cote d'Ivoire in November 2004, 10,000 Ivorians were registered as newly-arriving refugees in Liberia, although more than half have since returned. The same events prompted up to 10,000 Burkinabe migrants to return to Burkina Faso, but, according to the UNHCR, there was no similar movement of Ivorians.

Cuba

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with members and representatives of the Government of (i) the United States of America and (ii) Cuba regarding Cuba's humanitarian assistance to South and Central American countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has had no recent discussions with either the Cuban or US Government concerning Cuban humanitarian assistance to South and Central American countries. Representatives of HMG have had wide-ranging discussions with the Cuban authorities, including on their relations with these countries. Cuba provides technical assistance to a number of countries in the region, most notably Venezuela, but no assessment of its effectiveness has been shared by the Cuban Government or been made independently.

Debt Relief

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answers of 3 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1044–45W, on debt relief and 1049–50W on Tanzania, what additional debt relief is being provided by the UK under the Chancellor of the Exchequer's recently announced debt initiative; and if he will list (a) each recipient country and (b) the sum each is due to receive in each year up to 2015.

Hilary Benn: Under the new multilateral debt relief initiative, the UK will pay 10 per cent. of the debt service owed to the International Development Association (IDA) and African Development Fund (AfDF) on behalf the world's poorest countries. This initiative will be funded through the additional resources allocated to DFID in the recent Spending Review, and is additional to the UK's commitments to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.
	All low-income countries with a demonstrated commitment to poverty reduction are potentially eligible. These countries are those that have reached Completion Point under the HIPC Initiative, and all other IDA-only (i.e. eligible to borrow only from the most concessional lending arm of the World Bank) low-income countries (LICs) that have a Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) approved by the World Bank. Sri Lanka has also been added in light of the impact of the South East Asian tsunami.
	The list of currently eligible countries comprises 15 post-Completion Point HIPCs, 4 IDA-only LICs with PRSCs, and Sri Lanka. The cost to the UK for these countries through to 2015 is estimated at up to around US $870 million. As more countries progress through the HIPC Initiative, or have PRSCs approved, the list of eligible countries will expand. The cost to the UK through to 2015 for all countries that could potentially qualify for this initiative is estimated at around US $1,931 million. A table listing the UK's share of (estimated) annual debt service to IDA and AfDF for each country in each year up to 2015 has been placed in the Library under the title UK's Annual Debt Service to IDA and AfDF to 2015".

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the availability of (a) medical supplies and (b) adequately trained medical staff in the Manguredjipa area in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: A joint DFID/OCHA (Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) visit to Eastern DRC in October 2004 considered the humanitarian situation in Manguredjipa, although no particular assessment was made of the availability of medical supplies and the number of trained medical staff.
	The mission reported concern about the capacity of NGOs to respond to humanitarian needs throughout North Kivu exacerbated by the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and high level of sexual violence.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the (a) security and (b) humanitarian situation in the Manguredjipa area in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo since September 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The main concern in the Manguredjipa area of North Kivu over the past few months has been the high level of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to fighting between different armed groups. A joint DFID/OCHA (Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) mission to the region in October 2004 reported that most of Manguredjipa population (more than 6,000 households) had been displaced. Fighting in the Kanyabayonga area, south of Manguredjipa, triggered further movement of populations.
	Following the cessation of fighting, many displaced people are returning to their homes. 60 per cent. of the Manguredjipa population are now back home, according to an OCHA monitoring report in late January.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) financial, (b) logistical and (c) material assistance his Department (i) has provided since November 2004 and (ii) plans to provide to Merlin for its work in the Manguredjipa area in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: We are aware that Merlin is supporting health centres in the Manguredjipa area of North Kivu. During 2003 and 2004, DFID provided £450,000 over 13 months to a Merlin Emergency Health Assistance project for conflict affected populations in Ituri and North Kivu. DFID has committed £17 million of humanitarian assistance to the DRC in this current financial year, including £2 million for a UNICEF Rapid Reaction Fund in Eastern DRC. Future funding will be made available for those interventions that are directed at meeting the most urgent needs and according to established international standards.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: The latest UN consolidated appeal for DRC reports that the humanitarian situation has not improved significantly over the past year. Up to 3 million Congolese remain displaced from their homes, internally and within the Great Lakes region. Less than 30 per cent. of the population has access to clean drinking water and basic health services.
	The humanitarian situation in the east is of particular concern. Although fighting in north Kivu has largely died down since January, and many of the tens of thousands of displaced Congolese have been able to return to their homes, the province remains tense.
	Ituri district suffered further serious outbreaks of violence in January. UN agencies report that up to 80,000 civilians have been displaced. Where possible, UNICEF and some NGOs are providing humanitarian support. DFID is providing £2 million of support for a UNICEF Rapid Reaction Fund in eastern DRC, within an overall humanitarian package of £17 million for the country in this current financial year.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The Department For International Development has two main headquarters offices and each has a canteen. The following table shows the cost of staffing and supplying the canteens; utilities are not separately metered and cannot therefore be identified. The increase in costs in recent years followed the competitive tendering of the catering contracts to provide an improved quality and range of food to staff compared to the previous very limited service.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 54,485 
			 1998–99 56,022 
			 1999–00 63,656 
			 2000–01 81,537 
			 2001–02 73,949 
			 2002–03 92,840 
			 2003–04 181,237 
			 2004–05 (to date) 161,937 
		
	
	There are also two bars, but DFID makes no contribution to the staffing or supply costs for either of these.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: It is not possible to disaggregate specific costs relating to entertainment lunches and working lunches involving civil servants and guests from overall entertainment expenditure without incurring disproportionate cost. The following table shows recorded expenditure by my Department on entertainment for the years in question, to the nearest £000.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1996–97 10,000 
			 1997–98 24,000 
			 1998–99 43,000 
			 1999–2000 62,000 
			 2000–01 48,000 
			 2001–02 55,000 
			 2002–03 82,000 
			 2003–04 (182)219.000 
		
	
	(182)In 2003–04 DFID introduced new procedures to draw together administration costs, including those entertainment costs which had previously been recorded on country programme budgets. These changes have improved transparency and management of administration costs, but mean that figures from 2003–04 now include entertainment costs that were previously funded by country programmes and as a result are not comparable with earlier years.
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published Departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The Department For International Development (DFID) has spent the following sums on cleaning its offices since 1997:
	
		£
		
			  Cost Cost per square foot 
		
		
			 1997–98 185,971 0.65 
			 1998–99 169,170 0.68 
			 1999–2000 185,055 0.74 
			 2000–01 193,888 0.78 
			 2001–02 165,807 0.82 
			 2002–03 286,933 0.96 
			 2003–04 351,331 1.17 
			 2004–05 (to date) 267,380 n/a 
		
	
	The increase in overall costs from 2002–03 financial year is largely attributable to the Department's expansion in the amount of space occupied, as can be seen from the much smaller increase in cost per square foot.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost of staff mobile phone bills was in each year since 1997.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has spent the following amounts on staff mobile phone bills:
	April 2004 to date: £132,186
	June 2003 to March 2004: £89,500
	Mobile phones were not managed under a central contract prior to June 2004, and therefore information for earlier years (and information on mobile phones in overseas offices) is not readily available and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The only sum spent in relation to car parking facilities for DFID staff in the UK during the period in question was approximately £1,000 on relining the car park at our East Kilbride office in 2001. Since the relocation of our London headquarters to our current location at 1 Palace street, with the exception of one disabled space we do not have car parking for our staff in either of our London offices.
	DFID does not pay for parking tickets or penalties incurred by civil servants. Individuals are personally responsible for meeting the cost of any such fines.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on postage by the Department in each year since 1997.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has spent the following amounts on postage since 1997:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 164,417 
			 1998–99 161,627 
			 1999–2000 216,120 
			 2000–01 154,737 
			 2001–02 128,424 
			 2002–03 105,748 
			 2003–04 102,125 
			 2004–05 to date 55,860 
		
	
	In addition over the same periods the following has been spent on pre-paid postage:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 29,944 
			 1998–99 43,612 
			 1999–2000 21,105 
			 2000–01 34,588 
			 2001–02 37,794 
			 2002–03 40,876 
			 2003–04 34,195 
			 2004–05 to date 26,272

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on official ministerial (a) business cards, (b) headed paper and (c) compliment slips in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: Expenditure on business cards was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 14,779.49 
			 2000–01 24,283.85 
			 2001–02 23,112.34 
			 2002–03 18,161.58 
			 2003–04 24,802.65 
			 2004–05 (183)15,871.00 
		
	
	(183) To date
	Corresponding information for the two earlier years is not readily available as it was not separately identified, and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost. DFID does not purchase headed notepaper as this is produced using an electronic template, and compliment slips are printed internally rather than purchased.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department spent on (a) stationery and (b) office supplies in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has spent the following on stationery and office supplies since 1997:
	
		
			 Financial year £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 112,920.88 
			 1998–99 97,315.35 
			 1999–2000 99,704.63 
			 2000–01 139,896.64 
			 2001–02 100,488.02 
			 2002–03 136,592.65 
			 2003–04 158.603.15 
			 2004–05 to date 96,286.70 
		
	
	Our records do not allow us to differentiate between stationery and office supplies.

Development Assistance

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries he expects will cease to receive development assistance from the UK in each of the next five years.

Hilary Benn: On current plans, we expect that the following countries will cease to receive development assistance directly from the British Government over the next five years:
	2005: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kazakhstan.
	2006: None
	2007: None
	2008: East Timor
	2009: None
	These countries will however continue to receivedevelopment assistance from the EC, other multilateral development organisations and/or British non-governmental organisations to which DFID makes substantial contributions.

Disaster Planning

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what resources his Department plans to allocate to improve counter-disaster measures in the developing world;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the representatives of developing countries on (a) preparing for and (b) improving their response to natural disasters;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the views of the UN head of humanitarian affairs on disaster prevention and preparedness;
	(4)  if he will increase funding for disaster reduction.

Hilary Benn: DFID is already funding significant disaster risk reduction programmes in countries particularly susceptible to natural disasters, including India where we are providing over £60 million on disaster preparedness and reconstruction in Orissa over six years. DFID is the leading donor to the UN's International Strategy for Disaster Reduction at £1 million a year. We are also supporting other international organisations' efforts in this area including the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies and the Prevention Consortium Initiative.
	We aim to increase our spending on disaster risk reduction. Where practical, we will allocate up to 10 per cent. of each natural disaster response to mitigate the impact of future disasters. We also plan to develop a strategy to set out how we can best make further progress in this sector.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development held discussions with the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs at the Kobe Conference on 18 January 2005. We are pleased that Mr. Egeland is committed to pressing forward UN reform in this area and we are working closely with him and other interested donors to progress this.
	The UK Delegation, led by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, discussed disaster risk reduction with a number of developing countries at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, including those most affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. We stressed the importance of disaster risk reduction and encouraged the inclusion of disaster risk reduction measures, where appropriate, in countries' poverty reduction strategies.

EC Aid

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the oral answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1654, on the European Union budget, if he will make a statement on the statistical evidence supporting the statement that repatriation of EC aid would lead to lower levels of development assistance worldwide.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Member state contributions to European Commission development programmes are an annual, legally binding treaty obligation. There is no guarantee that in the event of repatriation, other member states and governments would maintain their previous level of development spend. Globally, the level of aid volumes could therefore fall.
	As important is that working with the EC is an effective way to leverage more resources for development. EC aid equals 10 per cent. of world overseas development assistance and the member states of the European Union and the EC together provide over half of global development assistance. This collective effort has given Europe the credibility to challenge its own member states and other Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donors to increase ODA/gross national income targets and global development aid. EU co-ordination led in 2002 to a specific EU ODA/GNI volume target commitment of 0.39 per cent. by 2006 as an input to the Monterrey Financing for Development Conference. This has contributed to a considerable increase of aid resources by EU and non-EU donors in support of the Millennium Development Goals. Repatriating aid would reduce the UK's and EU's leverage to help secure such increases.

Eritrea

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Eritrea.

Hilary Benn: Eritrea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The humanitarian situation has been compounded by drought, four consecutive years of failed harvests and on-going conflict over its border with Ethiopia. The UN estimates that roughly two thirds of the population—2.2 million out of a population of 3.6 million—may need food aid assistance at some time during 2005.
	The UN Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal (UN CAP) 2005 reports that global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates in 2004 peaked at 19 per cent. in Debub and 18.4 per cent. in Anseba, although rates are lower at present. Maternal malnutrition rates are thought to be among the highest in the world. The UN CAP 2005 for Eritrea is for $158 million, ($144 million of which is specifically for food aid).
	Last year, DFID contributed £1 million to the UN CAP 2004 through the World Food Programme (WFP) and currently supports two humanitarian supplementary feeding programmes with the Dutch Interchurch Aid and CAFOD. DFID also funds a water project with Oxfam. The humanitarian programme for 2005 will be £3 million, an increase of £1 million for this financial year. The increase reflects the need to ensure the most urgent humanitarian needs are met in Eritrea this year.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee on co-financing operations with European non-governmental organisations in fields of interest to the developing countries met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Co-Financing Operations with European Non Governmental Organisations Committee met once under the Italian Presidency of the EU, on 25 November 2003. The Committee met once under the Irish Presidency on 20 21 April 2004. The committee met twice under the Dutch Presidency, on 29 September 2004 and on 23 November 2004.
	All meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by an official from the Department for International Development.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective Presidencies: Cm 6174 laid in April 2004, Cm 6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450 laid in February 2005. These are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Committee on food security and food aid met; when and where these meetings took place; what UKGovernment expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Food Aid and Food Security Committee met twice under the Italian Presidency of the EU, on 16 July 2003 and on 6 November 2003. The Committee did not meet under the Irish Presidency. Under the Dutch Presidency the Committee met twice; on 2 July 2004 and on 10 November 2004.
	All meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by an official from the Department for International Development.
	The Food Security and Food Aid Management Committee is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for member states to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No 1292/96 of 27 June 1996. The EC's Food Security and Food Aid programme consists of identification, planning and implementation of food aid operations and operations in support of food security in developing countries.
	Council Decision 1999/468/EC sets out to
	simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
	Under this decision, the Commission undertakes to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The reports are deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of Government business in the EU under the respective Presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee on implementation of humanitarian aid operations met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Italian presidency of the European Union occupied the second six months of 2003. During that period the Humanitarian Aid Committee met five times, on a monthly basis with a break in August. Four meetings were held in Brussels, and one in Rome (October 2003). The Irish presidency ran for the first six months of 2004. Five meetings were held in Brussels, and one in Dublin (March 2004). The Dutch presidency occupied the second six months of 2004. Four meetings were held in Brussels, and one in the Hague (October 2004). The UK was represented by officials from DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department.
	The Humanitarian Aid Committee operates independently of the presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for member states to assist the Commission with implementation of Council Regulation No. 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid. The EC's humanitarian aid programme provides assistance, relief and protection to victims of natural disasters and man-made crises in third countries, as well as preparedness for risks of natural disasters. It approves annual allocations (global plans") to countries suffering chronic humanitarian crises, as well as emergency response to disasters.
	Council Decision 1999/468/EC sets out to simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". Under this Decision, the Commission undertakes to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The reports are deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004 refer.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Joint Committee (EEC-Co(r)te d'Ivoire) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UKGovernment expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID officials are not aware of any meetings of a Joint Committee (EEC-Co(r)te d'Ivoire) having taken place. In response to our inquiries, the European Commission was unable to recall such a Committee ever having met or what its mandate might have been.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidencies of the EU the European Development Fund Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The European Development Fund (EDF) Committee met four times under the Italian presidency of the EU, in July, September, October and November 2003. The Committee met four times under the Irish presidency of the EU, in February, March, May and June 2004. The Committee met four times under the Dutch presidency, in July, September, October and November 2004.
	All meetings took place in Brussels and were attended by officials from-the Department for International Development and the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels.
	The EDF Committee operates independently of the presidency. It is convened and chaired by the Commission and is constituted for member states to meet with the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Its role is to scrutinise and approve financing proposals and allocation of EDFfunds, serve as a forum for the exchange of viewson country and regional strategies and approve multi-annual allocations to country and regional programmes.
	Operations financed from the European Development Fund are governed by the provisions of the Partnership Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Community (ACP-EU) signed in Cotonou, Benin on 23 June 2000 (known as the Cotonou Agreement).
	The 15 December 2000 Internal Agreement applicable to the Cotonou Agreement specifies that the Commission produce an annual report. This report is subject to parliamentary scrutiny in the normal manner.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidencies of the EU the Advisory Committee on the special system of assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas met; when and where these meetings took place; what UKGovernment expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Advisory Committee on the special system of assistance to traditional African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) suppliers of bananas met once in November 2003 under the Dutch presidency of the EU, the Committee did not meet under the Irish presidency of the EU and met once in November 2004 under the Dutch presidency of the EU.
	All meetings of this Committee took place in Brussels and were attended by officials from the Department for International Development and the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels.
	The special framework of assistance (SFA) for traditional ACP suppliers of bananas provides for financial and technical assistance to 12 ACP countries, taking account of changes in the marketing arrangements for bananas in Europe following the amendments to the import regime introduced on 1 January 1999. The objective of this programme is to improve competitiveness of traditional ACP banana production. The Council regulation aims to achieve this goal by funding projects designed to increase banana productivity. Funding is also available for diversification where no opportunities for sustainable increase in banana production exists.
	Council Decision 1999/468/EC sets out to simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertakes to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The reports are deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the series of Command Papers that sets out the main elements of government business in the EU under the respective presidencies: Cm6174, laid in April 2004 and Cm6310, laid in September 2004.

EU Trade

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of theExpanding Exports Helpdesk on the (a) value and (b) volume of exports from developing countries into the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To help exporters in developing countries to make the most of EU trade preferences, and to make sure that this theoretical market access translates into more trade in practice, the European Commission set up the online Export Helpdesk in February 2004. This innovation aims to boost developing countries' exports by ensuring that exporters in these countries get the maximum information and assistance necessary to tackle the EU market. Practically it provides extensive information free of charge on customs duties, documentation, and rules of origin and trade statistics. An improved multilingual version, the Expanding Exports Helpdesk, was launched on 4 February 2005.
	DFID has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of this Helpdesk, but we expect the European Commission itself to monitor its impact regularly to ensure that it is effective and provides good value for money.

EU Trade

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the official initiatives in (a) the UK and (b) the EU to boost export opportunities for developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The European Commission is responsible for EU member states' trade policies, including import policies. As part of this, the EU as a whole operates a series of preferential import arrangements with all developing country partners, either on a bilateral, regional or multilateral basis, including arrangements under the Cotonou Agreement, the Generalised System of Preferences, and the Everything But Arms Initiative. All of these have as part of their objectives the aim of improving the export competitiveness of developing countries and helping them take advantage of trading opportunities through privileged access to EU markets. In addition, the European Commission has recently launched an improved version of its Expanding Exports Helpdesk", aimed at boosting developing country exports to the EU by giving exporters in these countries all the practical information and advice they need.
	In addition, the UK and EU provide support through its Trade Related Capacity Building (TRCB) Programmes. The UK has committed a total of £109 million since 1998 to building the skills and knowledge developing countries need to develop their trading capabilities, almost three quarters of which is aimed at helping small businesses export both regionally and internationally. The UK provides this support to increase the volume and value of developing country exports, including widening their range of exports and selling in a wider range of markets.
	For example, in Southern Africa, the UK is funding a £12 million programme to boost export opportunities for small-scale farmers and traders by developing common standards across goods and services in the region and improving customs procedures.
	We are also funding a £2 million programme in Kenya, which is supporting the business and investment climate there, in order to strengthen Kenyan capacity to export goods to regional and international markets.
	The UK is also funding a £17 million programme which will enable small enterprises from Nigeria to access new commodity and services markets—including international markets.
	Additionally, we contribute to European TRCB efforts, which have provided £675 million to develop the exports of developing countries since 2001.

Grenada

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the level of continuing need for aid and assistance in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the (a) tourist industry and (b) economy of Grenada of Hurricane Ivan; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assistance is being given to Grenada to diversify its agricultural production; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the impact of Hurricane Ivan on agriculture in Grenada, with particular reference to (a) nutmeg and (b) cocoa; and what assistance is being given towards recovery of these industries;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of housing need in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan; and what assistance his Department is providing.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Hurricane Ivan has been a catastrophe for Grenada. Two weeks after the hurricane hit the island, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) undertook a macro-socio-economic assessment of the damage caused. This assessed that 90 per cent. of housing stock was either destroyed or damaged, and around 30 per cent. of the population made homeless. The OECS/ECLAC assessment indicated that the damage to schools, hospitals, businesses and infrastructure was estimated to be in the region of £500 million, or twice Grenada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
	Grenada had been recording impressive growth rates in recent years and was expected to grow by 5.7 per cent. in 2004. With significant losses to the main productive sectors of agriculture and tourism caused by the hurricane, the economy is now expected to have contracted by 1.4 per cent. in 2004. Some 90 per cent. of hotel rooms on the island were affected by the hurricane. A staff mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will provide a further update on the post-Ivan macro-economic situation and the prospects for economic recovery at a donor briefing meeting in Barbados at the end of February 2005.
	Unemployment has increased with an estimated 40,000 jobs directly affected by the hurricane. However, as the physical reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure gets under way, it is anticipated that unemployment levels will start to decline.
	The devastation to the agricultural sector caused by Hurricane Ivan was particularly severe: 95 per cent. of nutmeg trees—Grenada's principal export commodity—were uprooted. Regrowth and recovery of the nutmeg industry will take an estimated 7–10 years. Grenada can, however, continue to export its reserve stocks for the next three years. This should help to cushion the impact of the loss of the trees on the economy. Cocoa was also affected, albeit, to a much lesser extent. 30 per cent. of the crop will need to be replanted, and it is expected that 50–70 per cent. of the harvest for next year will be available.
	At the 19 November donor conference on Grenada, the IMF announced that for the calendar year of 2004, donor contributions would fill the £21 million gap in Grenada's finances. At that time, the IMF anticipated that a financing gap of £4.2 million remained for 2005, which would widen in 2006 to £19.2 million. The IMF currently has a team in Grenada to undertake a fuller assessment of financing needs in 2005 and 2006. The IMF team will brief DFID officials and other development partners on their findings at a meeting in Barbados on 23 February 2005.
	One of the key financial challenges for the Government of Grenada is a high debt burden. We are working with the United States Agency for International Development, to provide a team of debt advisers to help the Government of Grenada to restructure its total stock of debt.
	Despite the unprecedented scale of the damage to the agricultural sector, the Grenadian Government has identified significant potential to restructure and transform the sector with support from the private sector. DFID is currently funding an evaluation of the direct and indirect effects of Hurricane Ivan on the forestry sector in Grenada as the basis for determining the interventions needed to rehabilitate and reconstruct the forestry sector. The study will implement a detailed assessment of the key damage to forestation on the island, and prioritise activities to ensure that work is urgently undertaken to prevent landslides and provide protection to the water table.
	Under the United Nations Flash Appeal for Grenada, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, appealed for some £2.2 1 million to support agriculture. £1.4 million has so far been committed and assistance has been provided to rehabilitate the cocoa crop and to assist the Government in its development of a strategy for nutmeg production.
	The Grenada Board of Tourism now reports 50 percent. of hotel rooms on the island are back inoperation, and predicts that the figure will be 80 percent. by the end of December 2005. The rehabilitation has been mainly funded by private insurance and the private sector.
	Reconstruction of the housing sector is a Government of Grenada priority, and is under way. Insurance payments are being made to those eligible, and the rawmaterials needed are being imported. For priorityvulnerable and needy families, the Government of Grenada has committed itself to constructing 225low-income homes between November 2004 and February 2005 at a cost of about £8,000 per home, and providing material assistance for the repair of 1,125 roofs during the same period. The Government are also offering a Soft Loan Facility that provides a maximum loan amount of approximately £8,000 for 10years with a one year grace period, at an interest rate of 3 per cent. A training and a public information programme on construction tips are also on-going, with model houses displaying appropriate building techniques being driven around the island. Over a longer timeframe, the Government of Grenada has set a target to construct 10,000 low-income homes under a phased programme over the next five years.
	In addition, the Venezuelan Government has committed to the construction of 130 homes in the Parish of St. David's; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to constructing 200 houses and repairing a further 1,500 houses by the end of 2005; and the People's Republic of China has also undertaken to provide 2,000 low-cost homes. A number of NGOs are seeking to provide low-cost, quickly constructed homes.
	DFID's micro finance project in Grenada has developed a new facility for small housing loans. The European Commission are considering how their micro finance programme might provide similar support.
	1 Conversion US$ to GBP = 1.8

Guyana

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing to (a) the Government of Guyana, (b) non-governmental organisations in Guyana and (c) multinational agencies and institutions assisting Guyana to deal with the aftermath of the flooding that occurred in Guyana in January 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) on 7 February 2005, Official Report, column 1219W, and also to the written ministerial statement I made on 10 February 2005, Official Report, columns 91–93WS.

HIV/AIDS

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of recent research into (a) the drug Nevirapine and (b) the consequences of that research for use of the drug in preventing HIV/AIDS transmission from mother to baby.

Hilary Benn: Nevirapine is one of the most cost-effective and clinically effective ways of preventing mother to child transmission of HIV. However, there have been concerns raised about the extent to which the use of the drug creates resistance. These issues will be discussed at a conference on Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infections in Boston in two weeks time.
	DFID follows World Health Organisation guidelines on treatment for HIV positive mothers. The guidelines provide for a range of options, that take into account both clinical outcomes and practical considerations about health system capacity in each country, and the difficulties for women to adhere to more complicated treatment regimes.

HIV/AIDS

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to ensure that the EU's HIV/AIDS strategy in developing countries (a) gives priority to HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, (b) adopts the Unicef-led framework for protection of these children and (c) allocates adequate resources to it.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Along with other member states we are engaging in the consultation process towards a new Programme for Action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis which the EC expects to adopt in 2006. The current Programme for Action does not sufficiently address the needs of orphans and vulnerable children and we will consider how best to address this gap in the forthcoming consultations.
	Last July, DFID was one of the first bilateral development agencies, along with Danish International Development Agency (DANI DA) and USAID, to endorse the UNAIDS/UNICEF Framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children living in a world with HIV/AIDS. Since then we have taken every opportunity to promote its use with governments and other organisations working to provide protection, care and support to children affected by AIDS. This includes children living with HIV and AIDS.
	We will use our Presidencies of the G8 and the EU to increase action on AIDS and will encourage those member states who have not yet endorsed the framework to do so. Committing resources to implement the framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children through national plans is key to this.
	Responding to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children needs to be part of the larger picture of the AIDS response. By the end of 2005, we want to have agreement among donors and the international system on a well coordinated and funded plan to tackle AIDS which will include support for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children.

Hurricane Ivan

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the differences between pledges made by the international community of donations to assist with recovery from Hurricane Ivan and the amounts raised.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) are in constant contact with the other major donors, and receive regular updates on commitments and disbursements. Thus far, the Government of Grenada have received considerable commitments from the international donor community to provide reconstruction and recovery assistance. At the 19 November 2004 Second Donor Conference on Grenada, the World Bank reported that the total commitments were in the order of £105 million. However, this remains a fluid situation, and additional monies have also been pledged from non-traditional donors such as Taiwan and Venezuela.
	DFID is leading on the development of a single donor framework for monitoring and reporting on finances and implementation progress. This will reduce the burden on the Government of Grenada to fulfil a number of different reporting requirements. It will also provide a clearer picture of donor commitments and disbursements, allowing the Government to plan better their reconstruction programme.
	The UK Government have provided nearly £7.1 million of additional support to Grenada since the hurricane, as represented in the following table. On 18 October, the Secretary of State for International Development announced the provision of £5.5 million worth of emergency budgetary support to the Government of Grenada in order to help meet their wage and salaries bill in the last quarter of 2004. This budgetary support was released to the Government at the beginning of January 2005 while emergency response contributions were released immediately after the hurricane hit Grenada.
	
		UK's financial contributions to Grenada post-Ivan
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Emergency relief supplies 56,000 
			 Development assistance to maintain the delivery of public services 5.5 million 
			 Health services through the Pan-American Health Organisation 85,000 
			 Emergency help through the International Federation of the Red Cross 300,000 
			 Relief and rehabilitation through Christian Aid 239,000 
			 Relief operations through Oxfam 200,000 
			 The UK's portion of European humanitarian assistance 700,000 
			 Total 7,080,193

Hurricane Ivan

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being provided by his Department to (a) Grenada, (b) the Cayman Islands and (c) the Caribbean region as a result of Hurricane Ivan; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In response to the disaster caused in the Caribbean by Hurricane Ivan, the Government have provided both immediate emergency assistance and additional development assistance totalling some £8.6 million. Most of this has been delivered by the Department for International Development (DFID), and has included:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Emergency relief supplies 56,000 
			 Development Assistance to enable public services to continue 5.5 million 
			 Health services through the Pan-American Health Organisation 85,000 
			 Emergency help through the International Federation of the Red Cross 300,000 
			 Relief and rehabilitation through Christian Aid 239,193 
			 Relief operations through Oxfam 200,000 
			 The UK's portion of European humanitarian assistance 700,000 
			 Total 7,080,193 
		
	
	We have also changed our ongoing programmes in Public Sector Reform, Education and Micro-Finance to take account of the disaster in Grenada. We are funding a surveyor and architect to assess the damage and re-building options for the Grenadian Parliament and the Governor-General's House; jointly with the United States Agency for International Development, we are providing a team of debt advisers to help the Government of Grenada restructure the total stock of Grenada's debt; and funding a Forestry specialist to advise on reforestation, which will help prevent landslides and provide some protection for the water table. We are also co-ordinating design work for a harmonised donor approach to monitoring and reporting which will reduce the Government's need to respond to a number of different reporting requirements. DFID continues to remain engaged in this process as the international community works together to assist Grenada rebuild its economy.
	Other UK Government Departments played a vital role in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. HMS Richmond and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Wave Ruler provided immediate emergency medical help and clean-up support. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded urgent repairs to the prison.
	In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, the Government provided emergency relief supplies and a contribution to the clean-up operations, worth about £230,000 in total, to the Cayman Islands. In addition, DFID's Disaster Management Adviser visited Grand Cayman to offer advice. The Government remains engaged.
	Other assistance in the region included £940,699 to Jamaica, £50,000 to Cuba and £304,560 to the Bahamas. A further £50,000 worth of assistance to the region was provided through the Pan American Health Organisation.

Iran (Bam Earthquake)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to Iran after the Bam earthquake.

Hilary Benn: After the Bam earthquake, DFID pledged around £2.15 million, of which we have disbursed all apart from £450,000 which we had pledged to the International Federation of the Red Cross but which was subsequently not needed because their appeal was sufficiently funded by other contributions they received.
	Of the money spent, £1,206,640 was channelled through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations as financial support. From the balance, DFID provided 68 search and rescue specialists and four DFID personnel, 450 family winterised tents and other shelter materials for distribution by the Iranian Red Crescent as well as two cargo aircraft put at the disposal of the Iranian Government.

Iraq

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports his Department has received on corruption within the UN aid distribution network in Southern Iraq; what investigations have been undertaken by agencies within the Basrah UN node; what losses have been estimated of UN assets; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not received any reports of corruption, or investigations into corruption, relating to United Nations development projects in southern Iraq.

Iraq

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps the Government have taken to provide medical assistance to civilians injured during the conflict in Iraq; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what resources the Government have provided to assist civilians injured during the conflict in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Improving health services presents major challenges and will take time. The system has suffered from neglect and decades of under-investment. The Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH) have acknowledged these challenges and, with support from donors, has identified priorities for investment and development. Despite the security situation steady progress is being made: for example salaries have improved, hospital and primary care clinics rehabilitated and national immunisation programmes organised.
	The UN and the World Bank managed multi-donor Trusts Funds are providing support to the health sector in partnership with the MoH, focusing on emergency and primary health care services which affect the poorest and most vulnerable. DFID has contributed 70 million to the multi-donor trust funds, 5 million to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and technical assistance to the MoH.

Iraq

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what resources the Government have provided to assist civilians suffering from psychological distress as a result of the conflict in Iraq; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps the Government have taken to provide assistance to civilians suffering from psychological distress as the result of the conflict in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In its 'Health in Iraq' report of September 2004, the Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH) notes the lack of mental health services and that new approaches to community mental health are needed. The report also highlights the need to address psychosocial issues, mental health promotion at individual and community level integration of mental health into primary care. A national workshop, conducted by the MoH in June 2004, discussed priorities for mental health promotion and strengthening of services. The MoH has taken this agenda forward through the development of a new planning process for 2005, published as the 'Planning Guidelines for 2005', in which the MoH have set out national priorities, objectives and standards.
	DFID's support for the health sector in Iraq, including psychosocial support, is primarily channelled through the multi-donor Trust Fund managed by the United Nations, to which DFID has made an initial contribution of 30 million. UN work in this sector will focus on the provision of technical assistance to develop mental health and psychosocial support services at the primary level. DFID has also provided technical assistance to the MoH, directly and through the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Kazakhstan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Government of Kazakhstan about the use of oil revenues to promote sustainable development.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has had numerous discussions with the Government of Kazakhstan, to urge them to participate in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a UK-led international initiative to promote transparency over revenues from oil, gas and mining. The UK Government believe that EITI could lead to significant improvements in resource management in Kazakhstan, and help to ensure that Kazakhstan's significant oil revenues fulfil their potential as an engine for growth and poverty reduction.
	Kazakhstan sent representatives to the EITI conference held in London in 2003, and signed the statement of principles agreed at that conference. However, DFID is not aware of any significant progress by the Government of Kazakhstan towards EITI implementation since then. The UK Government have raised this issue at official level on a number of occasions, and will continue to do so. We also hope to be able to discuss it with Kazakh representatives at the forthcoming EITI conference on 17 March, and the issue is part of the broader UK-Kazakhstan Energy Dialogue.
	The UK Government are also supporting a project through the FCO's Global Opportunities Fund, which is developing Kazakhstan's Energy Strategy to 2020. A sound energy policy will help promote sustainable development. The same fund is being used to support a series of Chatham House workshops on good governance in oil and gas producing countries, to which Kazakhstan has been invited.

Kenya

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of corruption in Kenya; and what discussions he has had with the Kenyan Government on (a) tackling corruption and (b) establishing good governance.

Hilary Benn: The anti-corruption ticket, which swept the Kenyan Government into power in 2002, has been almost totally discredited. Though Transparency International records a slight reduction in the perception of petty corruption and bribery, grand corruption seems to have returned to pre-2002 levels and possibly higher. The resignation on 7 February of the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Governance and Ethics, John Githongo, was a particularly severe blow to the Government's anti-corruption credentials.
	In continued dialogue with the Government, the UK and other donors have made clear that allegations about unsatisfactory tendering and contracting procedures are serious and need to be fully investigated. We have remained categorical that firm action should be taken against those found to have acted corruptly. We have continued to press the Government to pass important legislation including the Public Procurement Bill, and the Public Financial Management Bill.
	At the same time, we continue to encourage the Kenyan Government to give their full and undivided support to the country's anti-corruption institutions. The UK authorities have assisted the Kenyan authorities with their ongoing investigations. We will continue to give them co-operation and would consider further help with investigations into corrupt cases that are followed through with energy and probity. They should be followed through to their conclusion and those found responsible made to answer for their wrongdoings, regardless of position or connections.
	To this end, DFID is supporting the central Government systems that are intended to ensure that public financial resources are monitored and used more effectively. DFID, alongside 16 other donors, is also supporting the Kenyan Governance, Justice, Law and Order sector. This programme is working to strengthen key institutions that are directly involved in fighting corruption. There is to be increased support to the Director of Public Prosecution, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and civil society organisations, such as Transparency International, that work to improve the transparency of public resources. The donors will take recent events into account when making their assessments and planning their joint ongoing support, and the emphasis must be on building the institutions over the medium term, but the Kenyan Government will have to demonstrate that they are serious about tackling corruption.

Kenya

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanisms his Department has put in place to ensure that effective delivery of aid is not prevented by corruption in Kenya.

Hilary Benn: DFID's programme in Kenya is subject to the same rigorous safeguards as all our development assistance. These are intended to ensure that funds are spent in line with our objectives and with minimal risk of fraud or misappropriation. DFID is not providing poverty reduction budget support to the Kenyan Government, since we are not convinced that the Government are either seriously committed to fighting corruption or to making good progress on its overall reform programme. However, we can make progress on the Millennium Development Goals by supporting specific sectors and projects.
	DFID is also supporting the central Government systems that are intended to ensure that public financial resources are monitored and used more effectively.
	DFID, alongside 16 other donors, is also supporting the Kenyan Governance, Justice, Law and Order sector. This programme is working to strengthen key institutions that are directly involved in fighting corruption. There is to be increased support to the Director of Public Prosecution, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and civil society organisations, such as Transparency International, that work to improve the transparency of public resources.

Kenya

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to reduce aid to Kenya in response to its slow progress in tackling corruption.

Hilary Benn: Our Country Assistance Plan, launched with the Government of Kenya in June 2004, makes clear that we want to support the implementation of Kenya's Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS). Our CAP makes provision to increase our development assistance to 50 million in 200506, but final decisions will depend on ERS progress, including tackling corruption. Our assistance is designed to support long term change in Kenya that will lead to improved governance, and to help Kenya to make sustainable progress towards the MDGs. The faster the pace of reform, and the more conducive the environment, the faster progress we will make.
	However, we are not providing poverty reduction budget support to the Kenyan Government, since we are not convinced that the Government is seriously committed to fighting corruption and making good progress on its overall reform programme.
	Nonetheless, we believe that we can make progress on the Millennium Development Goals by supporting specific sectors and projects. For example there are opportunities for constructive engagement in, and support to, the education and justice, law and order sectors. In these we have pooled our funding with other donors to support the Government of Kenya's own strategies such as free primary education, without putting our money directly into their systems. Under these arrangements, we helped the Government to set up reliable school management systems to attract large support for learning materials for primary schools. All 18,000 primary schools in Kenya now have textbooks.
	In addition, there are opportunities even in sectors that have less well-established strategies by the Government of Kenya. In health for example, DFID is funding the social marketing of insecticide treated bed nets that is expected to reduce the rate of under-five mortality by 14 per cent. (68,000 lives saved).

Kenya

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by the Kenyan Government in (a) promoting and (b) implementing good governance practices.

Hilary Benn: Progress on governance by the Kenyan Government has generally been disappointing. However, there have been a few exceptions. The Government established a governance, justice, law and order reform programme with support from 16 donors, including support for anti-corruption institutions, police training, and judicial reform. In addition, the investigations into the Goldenberg scandal have continued credibly; all public servants (including the president) have declared their assets; land policy has been formulated and land laws are being reviewed; and there have been wider governance achievements around improved national budgetary processes and primary school management. Progress is being made in the implementation of the national integrated Monitoring and Evaluation system at both central and devolved level, and this will be fully rolled out during 2005.
	However, progress on dealing with corruption, especially on prosecutions, remains too slow. The biggest blow came last week with the resignation of the Permanent Secretary in the Office of President in charge of Public Ethics and Governance. The Public Procurement Bill has still not been passed. The continuing failure to bring the Constitutional Review process to a satisfactory conclusion has impeded progress towards the Government's objective of decentralisation and empowerment of local communities.

Latin America

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Cartagena Declaration on the (a) definition and (b) treatment of refugees in Latin America; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has made no assessment of its own of the impact of the Cartagena Declaration on either (a) the definition or (b) treatment of refugees in Latin America.
	The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who leads on refugee issues, organised a meeting last November in Mexico City on the 20th anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration. At that meeting, the Latin American countries re-affirmed their commitment to the spirit of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees and approved a Plan of Action to improve refugee protection throughout the region. The UNHCR is expected to include a number of programmes/projects outlined in the Mexico Plan of Action into its 2006 country operation plans in the region, as a way to guarantee a concrete follow up and implementation of the recommendations. Further details can be found on the UNHCR website (www.unhcr.ch).

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department (a) has made and (b) is making to the dispatch of emergency aid to Butuo, Liberia.

Hilary Benn: With the upsurge of violence in Cote d'Ivoire in November 2004, approximately 10,000 Ivorian refugees fled to Liberia, into Butuo town and its vicinity. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme and NGOs brought initial food and other assistance to these refugees by helicopter, drawing in part on 4.7 million in grants already provided by DFID for their work in Liberia. According to the UNHCR, over half the refugees have returned to Cote d'Ivoire, and the remaining 5,000 in and around Butuo are now receiving adequate levels of support, again drawing on DFID grants.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for its voluntary return programme for the repatriation of Liberian refugees.

Hilary Benn: DFID has recently provided a grant of 1.1 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in support of its programme to facilitate voluntary return of Liberian refugees from neighbouring countries. DFID funds are helping provide non-food items, transport capacity, road repairs and protection assistance. DFID has also provided 1 million to the World Food Programme to support the distribution of food rations to returning refugees, and a further 3 million to various agencies and NGOs to reactivate services and livelihoods in areas to which refugees are returning.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of Liberian refugees in West Africa.

Hilary Benn: DFID relies mainly on data from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who reports that there are currently 257,000 Liberian refugees registered in camps across West Africa: 42,000 in Ghana, 52,500 in Sierra Leone, 74,000 in Co(r)te d'Ivoire, 1,000 in the Gambia, and 87,500 in Guinea. These figures take into account recent voluntary facilitated returns of nearly 7,000 refugees from neighbouring countries, but may not take into account unofficial spontaneous repatriation. In addition, up to 75,000 Liberian refugees are estimated to reside outside formal refugee camps in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.

Malawi

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of projects aimed at diversifying the agricultural sector of the economy of Malawi; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has supported studies, programmes and organisations in Malawi that have contributed to the development of Malawi's economic growth strategy and more productive agriculture. Over time, these will lead to a re-balancing of the economy and of crop production.

Malawi

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the need to diversify the agricultural sector of the economy of Malawi away from tobacco farming; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Tobacco contributes 60 per cent. of Malawi's export earnings. It is produced increasingly by smallholders who make up 80 per cent. of the population. Furthermore, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and the Government of Malawi is naturally cautious about the risks of premature diversification out of tobacco. DFID knows of no evidence to suggest that there are alternative crops that are high value and low volume and therefore appropriate for export from a landlocked country and whose production could be scaled up rapidly under present circumstances in Malawi to replace tobacco in the short to medium term.
	However, if the Malawi Government's policies for promoting economic growth are successful, we expect agriculture to contribute significantly less to national income in the longer term and more emphasis to be placed in agriculture on the regional trade in food staples. Changes in international trade policies could facilitate this diversification.

Mr. Nelson Mandela

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he last met Mr. Nelson Mandela; and what matters were discussed.

Hilary Benn: I met with Nelson Mandela on 3 February 2005 with the Prime Minister and Chancellor of Exchequer. We discussed the Africa and the G8 and how we can achieve our objectives on aid, debt relief and trade.

Nepal

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to modify his Department's development programme in Nepal following King Gyanendra's recent actions in the country; what assessment he has made of allegations of misuse of development funds by the Royal Nepal Army; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has been monitoring recent developments in Nepal closely and with considerable concern.
	The criteria for reviewing the DFID programme in Nepal will remain clearly focused on an assessment of continued effectiveness and capacity to support pro-poor development and on the safety and security of staff.
	DFID will monitor the situation over the coming weeks, do all we can to maintain respect for unhindered access by poor communities to development assistance and assess changes in the operating environment over this period.
	For the time being, DFID will continue those programmes that operate through non-government channels, where we assess it is safe to do so. We have placed under immediate review, our programmes which operate through governmental channels, in order to assess, case by case, whether they can now be expected to deliver the poverty reduction benefits anticipated at the time of their approval.
	Over a slightly longer timeframe, we will also undertake a comprehensive review of the programme, to decide on a balance of aid instruments, funding channels and resource allocations that is appropriate under the new circumstances.
	I am not aware of any systematic or orchestrated misuse of development funds by the Royal Nepalese Army.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what measures his Department supports to improve the effectiveness of the New Partnership for Africa's Development peer review mechanism;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the New Partnership for Africa's Development peer review mechanism.

Hilary Benn: The New Partnership for African Development's (NEPAD) African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a promising initiative to improve governance in Africa. DFID is ready to support the APRM Trust Fund when it is up and running. This will facilitate the work of the APRM secretariat and their engagement with country peer reviews. DFID has contributed 160,000 to Ghana and 300,000 to Rwanda to support the APRM in these two countries. The initiative is still in its early stages and it is too early to assess effectiveness.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with (a) the African Union (AU), (b) the South African Government and (c) the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) concerning the possible incorporation of NEPAD into the AU structure.

Hilary Benn: In July 2004 at the African Union (AU) Summit, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) was legally and administratively incorporated into the AU, changing the name to AU-NEPAD. Prior to this and subsequently, DFID officials have regularly discussed related issues with the AU, South African Government and NEPAD.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of incorporating into the African Union the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Hilary Benn: We support the incorporation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) into the African Union (AU) as a means of ensuring coordination of these important initiatives. It is too early to make an assessment of how effective this will be in practice.

Palestine

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) humanitarian and (b) other aid assistance is being provided by his Department to the Palestinian Lebanese refugees.

Hilary Benn: DFID provides humanitarian and development assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through its funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). Since 2000, DFID has contributed over 65 million to UNRWA's regular budget which provides basic education, health and social services to the refugee population. Over 15 per cent. of this funding directly supports those refugees based in Lebanon. Because of the particularly poor social and economic conditions in the refugee camps in Lebanon, UNRWA allocates more per person there than to the other centres in the region.

Rohingya Refugees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department (a) has set up, (b) is running and (c) is funding in Malaysia to assist the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is not running or funding projects in Malaysia to assist the approximately 10,000 Rohingya refugees from Burma. DFID does not have a programme in Malaysia, which is one of South East Asia's richest countries. EU Missions in Malaysia, at the initiative of the UK, have lobbied the Malaysian Government over the status and treatment of Rohingya refugees, most recently in November 2004 following the Malaysian Government's decision to issue them with identify cards.
	DFID's support to Burmese refugees is focused on support to the 185,000 Burmese people living in camps in Thailand. We support the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) in providing food and shelter for those living in the camps. We are also funding the World Health Organisation to co-ordinate health services to refugees on the Thai-Burma border.

South Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa about (a) acknowledgement of the scale of the HIV/AIDS problem and (b) the allocation of resources and expertise to tackle the epidemic.

Hilary Benn: The Government of South Africa recognises the scale of their HIV/AIDS epidemic and, since 2000, has increased sevenfold, the amount allocated through the budget to HIV/AIDS programmes. South Africa launched its operational plan for comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, management and treatment in November 2003. During 2004, more than half a million people undertook voluntary counselling and testing, and more than 50,000 started anti-retroviral treatment.
	DFID supports South African efforts to combat HIV and AIDS through a number of programmes. A 30 million multisectoral HIV/AIDS programme, approved in 2003, provides technical support and advice to Government at national and provincial levels to implement its plans. The programme also provides support to non-governmental organisations and works with the private sector to disseminate best practice.
	DFID and British high commission staff in Pretoria regularly discuss both the scale of the epidemic, and the Government of South Africa's response, with their South African Government counterparts.

Staff Identity Passes

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The cost of producing a staff identity pass is 4.57, made up of the encodable pass itself (3.99) and production costs (58p).
	According to available records the number of passes reported lost or stolen since 1998 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 4 
			 1999 21 
			 2000 26 
			 2001 30 
			 2002 45 
			 2003 39 
			 2004 30 
		
	
	Figures for 1997 are not available.

Staff Surveys

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what the cost of staff surveys in the Department was in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much was paid to consultants carrying out staff surveys in the Department in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development commissioned two staff surveys in 2004, at a total cost of 86,435. The Department has also carried out staff management surveys in 2000, 2001 and 2003. These were undertaken in house and no external costs were incurred
	The specific internal costs could not be identified without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Sudan

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the United Kingdom is taking in partnership with other countries to ensure that the food, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and other basic needs of refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan are being adequately met; and what steps are being taken to assist in providing protection against attacks.

Hilary Benn: The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the Darfur crisis, having committed 62.5 million since September 2003. The UK also contributes around 18 per cent. of the European Commission's 152 million contribution to the crisis. This year the UK will provide 70 million in humanitarian assistance across Sudan. This includes 20 million for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in a wide range of sectors, including food, shelter, sanitation, and healthcare; 5 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 2005 Sudan Appeal; 5 million for the UN consolidated Appeal for Eastern Chad; and an un-earmarked 40 million contribution for the UN Workplan for Sudan, which will allow the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Khartoum to target funding where it is needed most. When making funding allocations, DFID co-ordinates closely with other major donors, particularly the US and EC. The large majority of DFID interventions are jointly funded by other donors.
	The UK remains gravely concerned about the security situation in Darfur, and we are pressing all sides to stop fighting and adhere to the Abuja protocols on providing unimpeded and unrestricted humanitarian access and refraining from all hostilities and military actions in the region. The UK has provided some 14 million to the Africa Union monitoring mission in Darfur, including the provision of 143 vehicles; 470 more vehicles are on their way. DFID also funds NGOs and international organisations providing protection to the Sudanese population. One such example is, the ICRC 2005 Appeal, to which DFID will contribute 5 million this year, this includes dialogue with all parties, and interventions to minimise violence due to competition for resources between internally displaced peoples (IDPs), nomads and farmers.

Sudan

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in the Sudan.

Hilary Benn: UN social indicators for Sudan are among the lowest in the world. Infant mortality is 106111 per 1,000 live births and in large areas of the country people continue to rely on humanitarian assistance to survive. Needs are hugethe UN Workplan for Sudan requires $1.48 billion for development and humanitarian assistance in 2005.
	The recently ended conflict in southern Sudan is estimated to have displaced four million people. Food insecurity is critical and there is little primary health care except that provided by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). However the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January this year, now holds out the prospect of peace throughout Sudan. Ensuring a stable, sustainable environment for the return of the displaced population will be a critical challenge.
	In Darfur the humanitarian situation remains precarious. There are over 1.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs), and a further 200,000 have fled to eastern Chad. The total population affected by the crisis in Darfur is estimated at 2.4 million. Despite limitations due to increasing insecurity, the humanitarian response continues to improve. In January 2005 food distribution reached 1.48 million people, some 140,000 more than the previous month. Shelter and non-food items have been provided to 73 per cent. of the IDP population while 56 per cent. were covered by sanitation activities. Of the total affected population, 49 per cent. had access to clean water, 62 per cent. to primary health facilities and 54 per cent. to secondary health facilities. Of major concern, is the observation of the first signs of food shortages among the general population, expected after the failure of the 2004 harvest season.
	Other areas of concern in Sudan include the Northern Red Sea State, which has suffered persistent drought and repeated crop failures since 1988, resulting in high food insecurity for the 700,000 population. Agricultural production for 2004 was better than the previous few years, but a large proportion of the population is likely to remain without sufficient food, and will require nutritional assistance for some time to come.
	The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, having allocated 62.5 million since September 2003. This year the UK will provide 70 million for humanitarian assistance across Sudan.

Tobacco

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the (a) social and (b) economic impact of the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on (i) Malawi and (ii) other developing countries with a large tobacco sector in their economy; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has made no formal assessment of the likely impact of the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Malawi or other countries. However, the WHO envisages that reducing tobacco consumption will take several decades. In the more immediate term, it is likely that national and regional policy factors such as domestic trade reform in China; energy, transport and land tenure crises in Zimbabwe; and the prospects of losing market share to expanding producers like Brazil are more pressing constraints for poor tobacco-dependent economies.
	We are very sensitive to the serious adverse consequences of tobacco on public health, in particular the growing burden of tobacco-related disease in developing countries, and we recognise the importance of the FCTC. DFID funds are not used identifiably to support the tobacco sector, but it is consistent with our Millennium Development Goal mandate to provide advice to tobacco-dependent poor countries on constraints to their economic development and the livelihoods of their citizens. This may include measures to assist farmers dependent on tobacco crops to diversify into alternative activities.

Uganda

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of birth control policies in Uganda.

Hilary Benn: Uganda's Poverty Eradication Action Plan emphasises the need to improve the ability of individuals to plan the size of their families as a way of contributing to the reduction of poverty. The Government's family planning policy seeks to increase access to high quality, affordable family planning services for those that require contraceptives and to promote integrated family planning information and services. These objectives are set out in the Ministry of Health's draft Health Sector Strategic Plan for 200510. Uganda faces a number of challenges in meeting these goals, including social misconceptions about family planning and a shortage of skilled staff and family planning commodities at the district level.
	DFID welcomes Uganda's prioritisation of family planning in its efforts to reduce poverty, and its inclusion in the Health Sector Strategic Plan. The latter will help ensure family planning is not an afterthought, but an integral part of the evolution of the health sector. We strongly support the focus on improving services at the district level. DFID also welcomes the Ugandan Government's development of a comprehensive advocacy strategy tackling a range of issues including education for young people in school and public leadership.
	The UK supports these efforts in a number of ways: through Poverty Reduction Budget Support and project assistance.

Uganda

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguards are in place to ensure that UK development aid donated to Uganda is spent (a) appropriately and (b) where designated; and what assurance the Ugandan Government has provided on this.

Hilary Benn: The UK currently provides 60 per cent. of its assistance as Poverty Reduction Budget Support, as a direct contribution to the Government of Uganda's budget.
	Uganda has a well-developed and consultative budgetary process which allows donors to ensure that Uganda meets its commitment to prioritise poverty reduction. It provides an opportunity to endorse the budget at the annual Public Expenditure Review. Allocations to the Government's Poverty Action Fund, for example, have risen from less than 20 per cent. of the budget in 1997 to 38 per cent. in 2004.
	Budget execution is generally good and is closely monitored by Government and donors, including the International Financial Institutions. DFID's Poverty Reduction Budget Support, and that of other partners such as the World Bank, is conditional on endorsement of the budget and its subsequent execution. This ensures that allocations to the Poverty Action Fund are protected. Detailed half and full year budget execution reports are posted on the internet, and the Government continues to produce audited accounts within the statutory period of nine months. Uganda performs well in international comparative assessments of public financial management, including the World Bank/IMF expenditure tracking assessment conducted in 2004.
	In addition to DFID's contribution to Uganda's budget, the UK provides a significant amount of project assistance, including support for improving public financial management. These projects are managed in accordance with DFID procedures and are subject to regular reviews to ensure impact and financial propriety. The National Audit Office was satisfied with DFID systems in Uganda when it audited our programme in December 2004.

UN Millennium Project

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the report of the United Nations Millennium Project, with particular reference to its call for results-based management of international aid.

Hilary Benn: The Government strongly supports the analysis in the report, which shows the Millennium Development Goals are off-track and demonstrates that aid works. We welcome the focus on Africa, and we agree that more countries can meet more of the 2015 targets if we act boldly now. Donors must commit more resources through traditional aid channels, enhanced debt relief, and the International Finance Facility. This will enable developing countries to develop and implement more ambitious poverty reduction strategies. On results-based management, we believe that aid should be provided to support country-led programmes with clear development outcomes and benchmarks.

Zambia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Zambia concerning (a) good governance and (b) tackling corruption.

Hilary Benn: I visited Zambia on 8 February, and met President Levy Mwanawasa, Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande, and Commerce Minister Dipak Patel. We discussed good governance, and the political and economic challenges facing Zambia.
	In my meeting with President Mwanawasa I highlighted the importance of his Government's continued fight against corruption. Cases have been launched against members of the previous administration, including former President Chiluba. Assets have been recovered or frozen in Zambia and abroad. Measures to prevent future corruption are being put in place across Government by the Anti-Corruption Commission, which is receiving technical and financial assistance from DFID.
	In my meeting with the Finance Minister I congratulated him on recent economic and fiscal policies that are improving growth and the investment climate. Domestic borrowing, interest rates and inflation are all falling. We also discussed the Government's recent improvements in public expenditure management and financial accountability (PEMFA). A PEMFA reform programme is now in place, supported by a group of donors, including DFID. The UK will provide 15 million to this programme over the next five years.
	Good economic governance will help ensure that public spending is more focused on poverty reduction priorities. Minister Magande emphasised that Zambia's 2005 budget is allocating more resources to health, education and other priority programmes.

Zambia

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid projects Her Majesty's Government are considering assisting in Zambia; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: UK assistance to Zambia presently totals 30 million per year on projects in various areas such as: health, education, HIV/AIDS, public sector reforms, and private sector growth.
	In recognition of Zambia's recent progress, I announced during my visit to Zambia on 8 February that DFID will provide up to 60 million over the next three years (200507) in the form of Poverty Reduction Budget Support. This will mean a rising UK aid programme, from 30 million per year, to 40 million per year by 200607.
	In addition, the UK Government will cancel all of Zambia's remaining bilateral debt to the UK if and when HIPC Completion Point is reached. Completion Point is likely in April 2005. The value of this debt cancellation is expected to be 128 million. The UK Government will also then pay 10 per cent. of the debt service owed by Zambia on outstanding World Bank and African Development Bank loans until 2015 in order to release additional funds to support the Government's poverty reduction programme. The savings from this initiative are expected to be 850,000 in 2005, rising to 2.5 million in 2015.
	Potential projects being considered at the moment include:
	Technical assistance to the Government of Zambia's new Public Sector Management Programme.
	Technical and financial assistance to scaling up social safety net programmes being piloted by the Government and other agencies, including ways of assisting the extreme poor, orphans and vulnerable children.
	Extension of the UK's present support to the public health system.
	The high commission's small grants scheme funds an average of 15 to 20 community and NGO projects every year, up to a total of 160,000. For 200506 applications will be accepted from April to June.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department is taking in order to prepare for a possible food shortage in Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: Recent assessments by NGOs working at community level in Zimbabwe suggest that malnutrition is not presently high by emergency standards, but that food availability and affordability are decreasing. The Government of Zimbabwe claimed last year that there had been a bumper crop and that it would not need international food aid during the period up to the next harvest (around April 2005). However, independent surveys suggest that the last harvest was much lower than the Zimbabwean Government claim. The Government cancelled the UN crop assessment and have not provided information to donors and UN agencies about their imports, stocks or their ability to sell or distribute grain. Even if the Government of Zimbabwe can import and distribute enough food, many vulnerable groups will not have resources to buy it. The World Food Programme continue to provide targeted feeding through their regional programme predominantly through institutions such as schools and clinics and some food supplements to Home Based Care programmes.
	DFID Zimbabwe, in collaboration with other major donors and the UN system, will continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe closely, while continuing to provide targeted food assistance and other humanitarian support to the most vulnerable sections of Zimbabwe society through NGO programmes which we are able to fund directly. At present DFID provides support to over 1.5 million of the poorest people with the goal to improve household food security through agricultural inputs and targeted food aid.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the Zimbabwe Government's refusal to accept food aid from the United Nations.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Zimbabwe's decision not to renew their appeal to the United Nations for food aid is of concern to the humanitarian community. The absence of an appeal may restrict the World Food Programme's capacity to plan, seek funding for, and implement further emergency operations over the coming months. Many observers believe that the Government intend to control the supply and availability of food in the country over the coming months as a political tool to gain votes in the parliamentary elections, scheduled for 31 March 2005. Donor-funded relief programmes have remained generally free of political interference. But there has been some evidence that access to food distributed by the Zimbabwe Government is being politicised. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Allowances (Midlothian)

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Midlothian receive (a) reduced earnings allowance and (b) retirement allowance.

Chris Pond: At 30 June 2004 there were 690 people receiving reduced earnings allowance and 330 receiving retirement allowance in Midlothian parliamentary constituency.
	Source:
	Industrial Injuries Computer System 100 per cent. count, rounded to nearest five to maintain anonymity of customers.

Benefit Claims (Scotland)

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people claimed attendance allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people claimed disability living allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Vivien Hopkins to Mr. David Marshall, dated 21 February 2005
	In reply to two of your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Disability and Carers Service, the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Eagle MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. In the Chief Executive's absence I have been asked to reply on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed attendance allowance and disability living allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available. The information requested is as follows:
	
		Thousands
		
			 Recipients by constituency at 31 August 2004 AA DLA 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Central 1.8 3.0 
			 Aberdeen North 1.9 3.3 
			 Aberdeen South 1.8 2.7 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 2.2 6.1 
			 Angus 2.0 3.3 
			 Argyll and Bute 2.2 3.2 
			 Ayr 2.9 3.8 
			 Banff and Buchan 1.9 4.7 
			 Caithness Sunderland and Easter Ross 1.3 2.9 
			 Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley 2.4 5.9 
			 Central Fife 1.7 5.6 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 2.2 3.9 
			 Clydesdale 2.4 5.8 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 2.1 5.2 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 1.7 4.1 
			 Cunninghame North 1.9 4.4 
			 Cunninghame South 1.6 4.6 
			 Dumbarton 1.9 4.7 
			 Dumfries 2.0 4.0 
			 Dundee East 3.0 4.7 
			 Dundee West 2.5 4.3 
			 Dunfermline East 1.4 4.6 
			 Dunfermline West 1.4 3.4 
			 East Kilbride 2.4 3.4 
			 East Lothian 2.3 3.9 
			 Eastwood 2.3 3.3 
			 Edinburgh Central 1.5 3.0 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 1.7 4.4 
			 Edinburgh North and Leigh 1.7 3.7 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 1.7 2.8 
			 Edinburgh South 1.8 3.2 
			 Edinburgh West 1.8 2.6 
			 Falkirk East 1.9 4.0 
			 Falkirk West 1.9 4.9 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 2.1 4.2 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 2.6 5.5 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 2.3 6.3 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 1.5 4.6 
			 Glasgow Govan 1.9 4.4 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 1.8 3.6 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 2.0 6.0 
			 Glasgow Pollok 2.3 5.6 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 2.4 5.2 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 2.4 6.9 
			 Glasgow Springburn 2.2 6.2 
			 Gordon 1.3 2.4 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 1.8 4.1 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 1.6 4.8 
			 Hamilton South 1.7 5.1 
			 Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber 2.3 3.4 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 2.5 4.2 
			 Kirkcaldy 1.8 3.6 
			 Linlithgow 1.7 5.3 
			 Livingston 1.8 5.3 
			 Midlothian 1.8 4.2 
			 Moray 2.0 2.8 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 2.2 5.3 
			 North East Fife 1.4 2.2 
			 North Tayside 2.0 3.1 
			 Ochil 1.4 4.6 
			 Orkney and Shetland 1.0 1.5 
			 Paisley North 1.7 5.0 
			 Paisley South 1.7 4.2 
			 Perth 2.6 3.4 
			 Ross Skye and Inverness West 2.0 3.2 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 1.7 2.7 
			 Stirling 1.7 3.5 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 2.2 3.5 
			 Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale 1.8 2.5 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 1.6 2.0 
			 West Renfrewshire 1.5 4.0 
			 Western Isles 0.8 1.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 May 2004
	2. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre.
	Please let me know if I can be of further help.

Benefit Office Closures

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many redundancies are proposed for each of his Department's benefit offices in Scotland.

Maria Eagle: Detailed work force plans are currently being developed for Scotland the outcome of which will inform any requirements for funded early releases. Until detailed business cases are fully developed it is too early to say if any redundancies will be required. Our intention remains that wherever possible we will avoid compulsory redundancy.

Benefits Agency

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the policy of the Benefits Agency is on visiting people who wish to make a claim but cannot attend an office; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assistance is available from the Benefits Agency to people who wish to make claims but cannot understand the forms they are to complete; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Mr. David Anderson to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 21 February 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your questions concerning the Benefits Agency policy on visiting people who wish to make a claim for benefit but cannot attend the office and what assistance is available from the Benefits Agency to people who wish to make claims but cannot understand the forms they are to complete. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The Jobcentre Plus Customers' Charter explains the level of service our customers can expect from our network which includes the new style Jobcentre Plus offices, social security offices and Jobcentres. Copies of the Jobcentre Plus Customers' Charter are available from the Library.
	We want to give the best service we can to everyone who needs our help and we aim to serve all our customers fairly and to the same high standards.
	All our claim forms have a statement, which tells customers to contact the local office should they have problems with completing a claim form. For example, if a customer has difficulties that affect the way they can use our service and they have made us aware of this, we will discuss with them the best ways in which we can help them.
	Where customers have literacy difficulties, we can help them or, if they prefer, we could refer them to a third party in their local area, where such arrangements are in place. For instance, if a customer had difficulties completing Jobseeker's Allowance claim forms, arrangements would be made for them to attend the office in advance of their interview to get help with completion.
	If a customer has difficulty in understanding English, we will arrange for an interpreter to assist them via Language Line or the Department's Face to Face Interpreter Contract.
	Where there is a legitimate reason for the customer being unable to attend the office or complete and return a postal claim form, a visit will be offered. For example where the customer has a physical, learning, mental, or communication difficulty, and it is not reasonable for anyone else to help, a visit will be arranged with the customer.
	I hope this is helpful.

Carers

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of carers who are over the age of 65 years and receive carers' allowance.

Maria Eagle: As at 31 August 2004, the latest date for which information is available, there were some 9,550 carers aged 65 or over who were receiving carer's allowance.
	Source:
	IAD information centre, 100 per cent. sample, as at 31 August 2004. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

Carers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many carers received both the carers premium and the basic state pension in the latest year for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 602W to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner).

Chemical Labelling

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how the concept of normal handling and use contained in EU legislation on the classification and labelling of chemicals is applied in the United Kingdom; who is responsible for advising the Government on the application of this concept; what guidance has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive to the business community and others on how the concept of normal handling and use will be applied; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to issue guidance to the business community on how the concept of normal handling and use in EU legislation on the classification and labelling of chemicals will be applied.

Jane Kennedy: The EU legislation which includes the expression normal handling and use is applied in the United Kingdom through the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging Regulations 2002. These regulations formally refer to the Approved Classification and Labelling Guide, a practical document which contains the expression without specific advice on its application. This guide is based on the relevant EU directive and was prepared by the Health and Safety Executive.
	We are aware that there is some concern that the present advice does not sufficiently explain the application of normal handling and use. The term is particularly important in EU negotiations when the dangerous properties of chemicals are discussed and agreed between member states. Clarification of the concept should be developed at European level and UK officials are actively pursuing this in the appropriate fora.

Child Support Agency

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many self-employed people have been pursued (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for money owed to the Child Support Agency in each of the past seven years.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. Mark Fisher, dated 21 February 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	Your asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many self-employed people have been pursued (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for money owed to the Child Support Agency in each of the past seven years.
	I am unable to provide the information you seek. I can however say that on the new scheme at the current time there are around 7,000 cases where calculations have been made under the new child support arrangements and the main source of income is derived from self employment. Of these payments are being received on around 3,900 cases. The new computer system also contains around 3,500 cases where the calculation of maintenance is made under the 'old rules' and the non resident parent is categorised as self employed. Payments are being received on around 2,500 of these cases. Equivalent information for earlier years for 'old scheme' cases is as followsthe information relates to August in each year:
	
		
			 August Number of cases Estimated number in payment 
		
		
			 2003 29,000 19,400 
			 2002 29,000 18,900 
			 2001 27,000 16,700 
			 2000 25,000 14,500 
			 1999 23,000 13,100 
			 1998 18,500 10,400

Cleaning Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: DWP was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) including the former Employment Service. The vast majority of the DWP Estate has been occupied under the terms of the PRIME PFI contract since April 1998. The PRIME contract was expanded in December 2003 to include former Employment Service properties. The Department pays a Facilities Unit Price for the accommodation which includes cleaning costs. The cost of cleaning is not separately identifiable.
	The figures in the table represent costs of cleaning former Employment Service properties prior to December 2003. The figures also include the cost of cleaning the Health and Safety Executive offices since it became part of DWP in 2002.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 6 
			 199899 6.3 
			 19992000 7.4 
			 200001 7.5 
			 200102 8.3 
			 200203 10.4 
			 200304(184) 8.3 
		
	
	(184) April 2003 to December 2003

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 199697 and (b) 200304, and what the estimated cost of employing consultants will be in (i) 200405, (ii) 200506, (iii) 200607 and (iv) 200708.

Jane Kennedy: The total expenditure by the Department for Work and Pensions on all external consultants in the years requested was:
	
		
			 Financial year Total ( million) 
		
		
			 199697 (185)100.3 
			 200304 (186)306.7 
			 200508 n/a 
		
	
	(185) Figures for ex-Department of Social Security only.
	(186) DWP was formed in 2001 (from former DSS, Employment Service ad parts of the DfEE)
	A high level assessment of current consultancy commitments and contracts indicates that consultancy expenditure is reducing during 200405.
	An estimate of future expenditure is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Council Tax Benefit

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Bridgwater constituency are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of council tax benefit.

Chris Pond: Council tax benefit data is not available broken down by constituency.
	Estimates of the total amount council tax benefit that went unclaimed in 200203, the latest year for which information is available, can be found in the Department's report entitled: Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002/2003; copies are available in the Library.

Data Sharing

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress the Department has made in sharing data on deceased claimants with (a) CIFAS and (b) other public agencies.

Chris Pond: The Home Office led Identity Fraud Steering Committee, which comprises public and private sector organisations that are committed to reducing identity fraud, began a project in November 2004 to explore the benefits, feasibility and legal impediments of sharing public sector deceased person information with private sector organisations involved in fraud prevention.
	The project is making good progress against the objectives set out in the agreed terms of reference.

Departmental Catering

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS), and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service. Health and Safety Executive joined DWP in July 2002. Canteen facilities are currently provided in around 165 of our 1,800 offices. The only costs incurred by DWP in providing these facilities is in the form of subsidies. The first year for which figures are available is 199899. The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199899 2.7 
			 19992000 3.1 
			 200001 3.3 
			 200102 3.5 
			 200203 3.6 
			 200304 3.8 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for periods prior to June 2001 are for the former DSS only.
	There is one bar on DWP premises, this is run, managed and financed by a sports and social club and therefore no running, staffing or supply costs have been incurred by DWP.

Departmental Offices, Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects his Department's offices in Beeches road, Chelmsford to close; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 21 February 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning plans to close the Jobcentre Plus premises at Beeches Road, Chelmsford. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I wrote to you in March 2004 regarding our plans for this site. Since then, the future of our Beeches Road site has been still under review as part of a DWP wide exercise to review Estate holdings throughout Essex. I am aware that a somewhat misleading article was recently featured in the press relating to the closure of our site in Beeches Road.
	It may be helpful if I briefly describe the changes we are currently planning.
	With the Executive Board of Jobcentre Plus I have carefully considered how we can make benefit processing more efficient in the interests of all our customers. We have now concluded that we should consolidate this important area of our business into a smaller number of locations. Currently we carry out this work in several hundred sites and reducing this to around 77 Benefit Processing Centres by 2008 will enable us to deliver a faster, more efficient service using the improved information technology systems which are now starting to become available to us.
	As you are already aware, the benefit processing work we currently carry out at Beeches Road, Chelmsford will be moving to one of our new processing centres. The announcement of our planned changes was obviously a sensitive issue for the staff who currently undertake this work in Chelmsford and a number of similar sites nationally. We considered it vitally important that our people should hear about the plans as soon as possible and that they should hear the news from Jobcentre Plus Managers.
	We therefore planned and undertook an extensive programme of communications throughout our organisation, to MPs and to other people and organisations we work closely with. Even at this early stage, an essential part of our communications strategy was to set out the arrangements we are making to re-deploy employees who will be affected by the changes, including our commitment to avoid redundancies as far as possible. The timescale for the transfer of benefit processing work from sites such as Beeches Road has still to be determined, although our intention is that this will take place by 2008.
	Jobcentre Plus provides a telephone contact centre network where our customers are able to make enquiries without having to come into one of our offices. Our Beeches Road site currently houses a small part of this network. Our current plans involve this work being undertaken from another part of the network by our staff based in Derby, from 2 September 2005.
	Other face-to-face services will continue to be provided by staff at Beeches Road.
	Jobcentre Plus keeps under constant review our Estates and operational delivery to customers. I hope it will reassure you to know that, at the present time, there are still no plans to close the Beeches Road premises.

Departmental Policies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of his Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Blackpool, South will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 200203 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 24 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the north-west are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Blackpool, South who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
	
		
			 Operational year Blackpool, South DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 10,600 
			 2002 10,400 
			 2003 11,100 
			 2004 11,600 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; though in Blackpool, South, the proportion in employment has reduced by 4.7 points since 1997 to 69.7 per cent.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 2,260 in Blackpool, South alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 200203) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 199697. Since 200102 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 200102. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 2,600 families in Blackpool, South.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly 10 billion more in 200405 (in 200405 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the State Second Pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 6,710 pensioners in Blackpool, South are receiving pension credit, with an average award of 43.14 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (200405) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of 200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and 300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of 100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their Basic State Pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 20,700 pensioners in Blackpool, South have benefited from this increase.

Departmental Policies

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Folkestone and Hythe constituency, the effects on Folkestone and Hythe of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Folkestone and Hythe will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 200203 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 18 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the South East are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Folkestone and Hythe who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
	
		
			 Operational year Folkestone and Hythe DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 6,000 
			 2002 6,400 
			 2003 6,300 
			 2004 6,800 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; though in Folkestone and Hythe, the proportion in employment has reduced by 8 points since 1997 to 71.4 per cent.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 1,880 in Folkestone and Hythe alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 200203) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 199697. Since 200102 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 200102. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 2,000 families in Folkestone and Hythe.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly 10 billion more in 200405 (in 200405 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the State Second Pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 5,005 pensioners in Folkestone and Hythe are receiving pension credit, with an average award of 39.47 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (200405) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of 200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and 300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of 100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their Basic State Pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively.Some 21,800 pensioners in Folkestone and Hythe have benefited from this increase.

Departmental Policies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government has significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Huddersfield will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled 3 and 4-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 200203 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 25 per cent. of adults and 4 per cent. of children in the Yorkshire and Humber region are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Huddersfield who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) is in the following table.
	
		Huddersfield
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 6,900 
			 2002 7,000 
			 2003 6,900 
			 2004 7,400 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Huddersfield, the proportion in employment has risen to 70.3 per cent.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 2,970 in Huddersfield alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 200203) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 199697. Since 200102 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 200102. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 2,400 families in Huddersfield.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly 10 billion more in 200405 (in 200405 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 4,750 pensioners in Huddersfield are receiving pension credit, with an average award of 40.58 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (200405) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of 200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and 300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70 plus payment of 100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80 plus annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 15,000 pensioners in Huddersfield have benefited from this increase.

Departmental Policies

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his Department's actions and policies since 1997 on Rochdale.

Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
	Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Rochdale will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled 3 and 4-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	In 200203 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	The figures can be broken down to national level which shows that 24 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the North West are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
	Information on the numbers of customers in Rochdale who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
	
		Rochdale
		
			 Operational year DLA/AA recipients 
		
		
			 2001 6,900 
			 2002 7,400 
			 2003 7,700 
			 2004 7,900 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; there are 40,000 people in work in Rochdale.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with over 2,900 in Rochdale alone.
	Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 200203) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 199697. Since 200102 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 200102. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 3,600 families in Rochdale.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly 10 billion more in 200405 (in 200405 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
	Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 5,485 pensioners in Rochdale are receiving pension credit, with an average award of 44.24 per week.
	We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (200405) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of 200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and 300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of 100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
	The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
	Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 14,500 pensioners in Rochdale have benefited from this increase.

Direct Benefit and Pension Payments

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Bridgwater constituency have been converted to direct payment of pensions and benefits.

Chris Pond: In April 2003, when the conversion to direct payment began, 15,905 benefit accounts in Bridgewater were paid into a bank account. By December 2004 (the latest date for which figures are available) the figure had increased to 31,595 benefit accounts.

DLA and Winter Fuel Payments

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency claim (a) disability living allowance and (b) winter fuel payments.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of people in each ward of Wallasey constituency in receipt of disability living allowance and winter fuel payments is in the table.
	
		
			 Ward Disability living allowance recipients Winter fuel payment recipients 
		
		
			 Moreton 995 2,850 
			 Leasowe 1,245 2,600 
			 Wallasey 720 3,615 
			 New Brighton 1,070 3,810 
			 Liscard 1,185 2,940 
			 Seacombe 1,440 2,440 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All wards based on census wardsthose current as at April 2003.
	2. DLA figures are taken at August 2004, the latest currently available at ward level, and include all DLA claimants including children, working age and pensioners claiming DLA.
	3. WFP data are the latest currently available, winter 200304.
	4. All benefit counts at ward level are rounded to a multiple of 5.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre

Employment Advisers

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether patients' referral to employment advisers based in general practitioners' surgeries will be made on a voluntary basis.

Jane Kennedy: GPs have a key role to play in ensuring that their advice supports the recovery and rehabilitation of patients and, where appropriate, encourages a return to work or work-related activity.
	We are currently exploring options for the pilot and we will bring forward our proposals in due course.

Employment Rehabilitation

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what standardised data he collates on the performance of UK agencies in securing rehabilitation into employment in comparison with that of other OECD countries.

Chris Pond: We provide data for the OECD on active labour market policies for the disabled. A time series for the UK excluding Northern Ireland is shown in the table:
	
		Spending on programmes for disabled people
		
			  Nominal spending ( million) Real spending ( million 200304 prices) 
		
		
			 198283 85 191 
			 198384 92 198 
			 198485 97 198 
			 198586 105 204 
			 198687 122 229 
			 198788 133 237 
			 198889 147 245 
			 198990 136 211 
			 199091 132 190 
			 199192 143 194 
			 199293 160 211 
			 199394 159 204 
			 199495 174 220 
			 199596 183 225 
			 199697 175 208 
			 199798 183 212 
			 199899 188 211 
			 199900 215 237 
			 200001 222 242 
			 200102 222 236 
			 200203 268 275 
			 200304 298 298 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP figures.
	This is then presented as internationally comparable data, for example in Table H of the statistical annex in the OECD publication Employment Outlook 2004.
	
		
			 Measures for the Disabled 19992000 200001 200102 200203 
		
		
			 Expenditure (Percentage GDP) 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 
			 Participant Inflows (Percentage Labour Force) 0.18 0.18 0.17  
		
	
	Source:
	OECD Employment Outlook 2004

EU Committee of Senior Labour Inspectors

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee of senior labour inspectors met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Senior Labour Inspector Committee (SLIC) meets twice yearly, once in each EU presidency. During the Italian presidency, in the second half of 2003, the SLIC met in Rome between the 25 and 27 of October. The Irish presidency hosted the SLIC meeting in Dublin between the 19 and 21 of May 2004. The Netherlands held their SLIC meeting between the 3 and 5 of November 2004 in Maastricht. Senior operational officials from the Health and Safety Executive attended on all three occasions.
	There have been three Command Papers produced on prospects for the European Union which include highlights from the Presidencies in questionCm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005. They are available in the Library and on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) Advisory Committee on the implementation of the Community action programme to combat social exclusion, (ii) Advisory Committee on the free movement of workers met; when and where each meeting took place; what UK Government expert was present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The Advisory Committee on the implementation of the Community Action Programme to combat social exclusion met in Brussels on the following dates:
	
		
			  Date 
		
		
			 Italian presidency 30 September 2003 
			  10 December 2003 
			 Irish presidency 11 February 2004 
			  28April 2004 
			 Dutch presidency 28 September 2004 
			  7 December 2004 
		
	
	The Advisory Committee on the Free Movement of Workers met in Brussels on the following dates:
	
		
			  Date 
		
		
			 Italian presidency 2 July 2003 
			  26 November 2003 
			 Irish presidency 12 March 2004 
			 Dutch presidency 20 October 2004 
		
	
	The UK Government were represented by officials from the Department for Work and Pensions at all these meetings.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on the prospects for the European UnionCm 6174 laid in April 2004, Cm 6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies. They are available in the Library and on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Technical Committee for the implementation of regulations concerning the free movement and employment of workers met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The Technical Committee on the Free Movement of Workers met in Brussels on the following dates:
	
		
			  Date 
		
		
			 Italian presidency 1 July 2003 
			  25 November 2003 
			 Irish presidency 11 March 2004 
			 Dutch presidency 19 October 2004 
		
	
	The UK Government were represented by an official from the Department for Work and Pensions at the meetings on 25 November 2003 and 19 October 2004. An official from the Home Office also attended the meeting on 19 October 2004.
	The UK Government were not represented at the meetings on 1 July 2003 and 11 March 2004.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on the prospects for the European UnionCm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies. They are available in the Library and on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Administrative Commission on social security for migrant workers (and working parties) met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant Workers (and working parties) met in Brussels on the following dates:
	Italian presidency
	Administrative Commission
	2829 October 2003: Officials from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department of Health and Inland Revenue attended.
	1617 December 2003: Officials from DWP, the Department of Health and Inland Revenue attended.
	Administrative Commission Working Party
	15 September 2003: Two officials from DWP attended.
	10 October 2003: An official from the Department of Health attended.
	20 November 2003: Two officials from Inland Revenue attended.
	Irish presidency
	Administrative Commission
	2324 March 2004: Officials from DWP and the Department of Health attended.
	16 June 2004: Officials from DWP, the Department of Health and Inland Revenue attended.
	Administrative Commission Working Party
	12 February 2004: An official from the Department of Health attended.
	Dutch presidency
	Administrative Commission
	1314 October 2004: Officials from DWP, the Department of Health, Inland Revenue and HM Treasury attended.
	1516 December 2004: Officials from DWP, the Department of Health, and HM Treasury attended.
	Administrative Commission Working Party
	21 October 2004: Officials from DWP, the Department of Health and Inland Revenue attended.
	30 November 2004: An official from the Department of Health attended.
	I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on the prospects for the European UnionCm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies. They are available in the Library and on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Scientific Committee for occupational exposure limits to chemical agents met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The European Commission's Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) met on six occasions in the last 18 months. During the Italian presidency the SCOEL met between 2324 September 2003 and 1011 December 2003. During the Irish presidency it met between 1718 March 2004 and 1617 June 2004. During the Dutch presidency the Committee met between 2223 September 2004 and 1516 December 2004. All meetings took place in the Jean Monnet Building in Luxembourg.
	SCOEL members act as independent scientific experts, not as representatives of national Governments. Two SCOEL members are nominated by the Health and Safety Executive, on behalf of the UK. One of the two UK Members of SCOEL is the Head of the Health and Safety Executive's Industrial Chemicals Unit. He attended all six meetings.
	There have been three Command Papers produced on prospects for the European Union which include highlights from the Presidencies in question: Cm6174 laid in April 2004, Cm6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm6450 laid in February 2005. These are available in the Library and on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

External Suppliers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many tenders were let by his Department to external suppliers in the financial year 200304; and what the value was.

Maria Eagle: The majority of tenders received are in response to low value, low risk procurements let locally under devolved budget arrangements. The Department does not collect information centrally about these tenders and to provide a complete answer to the question would incur disproportionate cost. However, information is collected centrally on high value, high risk procurements conducted by specialist procurement teams. In 200304 the Department let 440 contracts and framework agreements with values over the EU threshold level (about 100,000). The total value of these over their full durations, which range between two and 18 years, is expected to be about 2,012 million. The actual value will depend upon the volume of business we place and the quality of services delivered over the period.

Five Year Strategy

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the employment advisers pledged in the Department's Five Year Strategy will be recruited; and if they will be exempt from the Department's proposed job cuts.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Mr. David Anderson to Mr. Paul Holmes, dated 21 February 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how the employment advisers pledged in the Department's Five Year Strategy will be recruited: and if they will be exempt from the Department's proposed job cuts. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Whilst external recruitment may be required in some locations, many of the Personal Adviser posts, which will help Jobcentre Plus continue to deliver services to jobless customers, are already occupied by our skilled staff. In other cases, as an important element of the Department's approach to seek to avoid compulsory redundancies, vacant Adviser posts will be filled by re-trained, surplus staff from Jobcentre Plus, or from elsewhere within the Department.
	It is not possible to say that any individual staff member will be exempt from the staffing reductions which will be implemented. The particular circumstances of, for example, a voluntary early release scheme could lead to a current Personal Adviser deciding to leave Jobcentre Plus to be replaced by a surplus person. However, given Jobcentre Plus will increase the proportion of our staff in active roles which support customers into work, it is likely that this group of staff will be affected less than those providing support roles which do not involve contact with the public.
	I hope this is helpful.

Five Year Strategy

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a list of the wards referred to in paragraph 30, page 29, of his Department's Five Year Strategy, broken down by constituency.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information has been placed in the Library.

Generators (Accidents)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of accidents involving low voltage single phase generators since 199697 (a) in total and (b) in fair and amusement park sites; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Accident data, collected by the Health and Safety Executive is not collected in this level of detail. It is therefore not possible to provide these estimates.

Housing Benefit

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact that implementation of the Verification Framework has had on the processing of housing benefit by local authorities;
	(2)  how his Department measures the impact that the Verification Framework has had on the performance of housing benefit delivery.

Chris Pond: We monitor processing times for new claims and change of circumstance across all local authorities, but we have not specifically assessed the impact of the Verification Framework (VF) since 2002. The assessment was inconclusive but suggested that there is an initial dip in performance followed by an improvement in some groups of local authorities.
	Local authority performance is affected by a multitude of factors, but using the most recent data, the average processing times for new claims for VF and non-VF local authorities are currently 45 days and 52 days respectively. The average processing times for changes of circumstances are 13 days and 15 days respectively. In some other recent quarters, however, these differences have been smaller.
	It is our conclusion that this recent data provides no evidence that VF currently has a significant effect on the performance of housing benefit delivery.

Housing Benefit

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming housing benefit in Blyth Valley on the latest date for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: As at May 2004 there were 6,200 people in receipt of housing benefit in the Blyth Valley borough council area.
	Notes:
	1. The figure is rounded to the nearest hundred
	2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. The figure excludes any Extended Payment cases
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count.

Housing Benefit

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed housing benefit in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: As at May 2004 there were 446,900 people in receipt of housing benefit in Scotland.
	Notes
	1. The figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	4. The figure excludes any extended payment cases.
	Source
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people leaving incapacity benefit in each year since 1995 had received the benefit for (a) less than six months, (b) less than 12 months, (c) less than two years and (d) more than five years.

Maria Eagle: The available information is in the table.
	
		All incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance terminations in the quarters shown, by duration of claim.
		
			 Quarter ending All Up to 6 months Over 6 months up to 1 year Over 1 up to 2 years Over 2 up to 5 years Over 5 years 
		
		
			 May 1995 201,500 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 August 1995 245,200 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 November 1995 272,300 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 1996 266,300 127,400 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 May 1996 277,400 117,600 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 August 1996 251,500 116,800 31,200 n/a n/a n/a 
			 November 1996 235,000 121,400 29,700 n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 1997 244,000 118,100 30,600 n/a n/a n/a 
			 May 1997 257,100 116,500 33,600 n/a n/a n/a 
			 August 1997 241,800 115,700 31,000 22,600 n/a n/a 
			 November 1997 245,300 115,100 32,700 21,500 n/a n/a 
			 February 1998 230,400 105,200 32,100 21,900 n/a n/a 
			 May 1998 238,500 107,000 34,900 22,700 n/a n/a 
			 August 1998 215,900 94,200 30,800 21,600 n/a n/a 
			 November 1998 242,400 104,900 31,700 23,300 n/a n/a 
			 February 1999 193,800 95,000 24,900 17,700 n/a n/a 
			 May 1999 214,500 95,600 29,300 18,900 n/a n/a 
			 August 1999 217,400 93,400 28,000 18,600 n/a n/a 
			 November 1999 214,500 94,300 29,100 18,100 n/a n/a 
			 February 2000 213,300 93,500 27,600 18,800 n/a n/a 
			 May 2000 193,400 89,700 25,800 17,300 n/a n/a 
			 August 2000 174,900 84,600 25,500 16,300 22,500 26,000 
			 November 2000 180,500 85,000 27,400 16,500 23,400 28,200 
			 February 2001 183,500 80,800 27,800 17,800 22,700 34,400 
			 May 2001 187,400 81,700 30,100 17,600 25,500 32,400 
			 August 2001 175,300 77,500 28,600 17,300 22,000 29,800 
			 November 2001 188,400 82,500 30,800 19,100 22,700 33,300 
			 February 2002 176,300 74,700 27,400 17,500 22,700 33,900 
			 May 2002 181,200 76,700 27,600 17,500 25,100 34,400 
			 August 2002 176,600 74,200 27,200 17,300 23,500 34,400 
			 November 2002 186,100 80,700 27,700 17,400 24,400 35,900 
			 February 2003 170,700 72,000 26,500 15,900 21,900 34,300 
			 May 2003 166,300 72,800 29,800 17,300 23,200 23,000 
			 August 2003 183,400 75,200 28,000 17,100 24,600 38,500 
			 November 2003 187,500 76,100 30,200 15,700 24,600 40,900 
			 February 2004 173,900 70,000 28,100 15,500 22,500 37,800 
			 May 2004 178,100 69,000 29,300 17,200 25,700 36,800 
			 August 2004 125,300 51,600 22,000 12,700 20,000 19,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Information is not available on claims which commenced prior to April 1995.
	3. n/a not available.
	4. Figures include all incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance and credits-only cases.
	5. These figures have been updated to include late notified terminations, including terminations for retirement pension. Figures for the latest quarter do not include any late notifications and are subject to major changes in future quarters. For illustration purposes, total terminations for August 2003 increased by 34 per cent. in the year following their initial release.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.

Incapacity Benefit

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency claim incapacity benefit.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (SDA) claimants in Wallasey, by ward
		
			 Ward name Number 
		
		
			 Moretown 890 
			 Leasowe 1,325 
			 Wallasey 650 
			 New Brighton 1,195 
			 Liscard 1,230 
			 Seacombe 1,610 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All wards based on census wardsthose current as at April 2003.
	2. Figures include all IB, SDA and IB credits-only cases.
	3. IB and SDA figures are taken at August 2004.
	4. All benefit counts at ward level are rounded to a multiple of five to protect the confidentiality of individual claimants.
	Source:
	IAD Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions.

Income Support

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families with children have been in receipt of income support for more than one year.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Families with children/dependents who have been in receipt of income support for more than one year in Great Britain
		
			  Number of families 
		
		
			 Families with children 843,000 
			 Families with dependants 880,600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.
	2. The figure for families with dependants includes families with children.
	3. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	4. Children are defined as aged 015 years.
	5. Dependants are defined as aged 019 years.
	Source:
	DWP information centre, 5 per cent. samples.

Lie Detectors

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 59W on lie detectors, what plans he has to make a formal assessment of the value of voice stress analysis technology with particular reference to benefit delivery.

Chris Pond: We have no plans to make a formal assessment of the value of voice stress analysis technology in respect of benefit delivery.

MIG

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many pensioners in the Bridgwater constituency were in receipt of the minimum income guarantee in September 2004;
	(2)  how many pensioners in the Bridgwater constituency are (a) eligible for pension credit and (b) in receipt of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit in October 2003. Information on the number of pension credit recipients in Bridgewater in September and December 2004 is given in the following table. Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for pension credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 350,000 households in the south-west region, corresponding to approximately 450,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for pension credit in 200405. This is an indicative estimate, subject to a significant margin of error. At the end of December 2004, 219,810 pensioner households in the south-west region, comprising approximately 268,430 individuals, were in receipt of pension credit.
	
		Pension credit recipients in Bridgewater
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 30 September 2004 4,615 5,740 
			 31 December 2004 4,680 5,810 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Individual recipients comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	4. The figures for December 2004 are the latest available.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample.

New Deal

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Leigh constituency have participated in (a) the new deal for lone parents and (b) the new deal for partners since 1997; how many lone parents have gained work through the new deal programme; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: 1,180 women have started new deal for lone parents in the Leigh constituency since the beginning of the programme in October 1998. Information on the number of women who have started the new deal for partners is not available at constituency level.
	Information on the number of lone parents who have gained work through the new deal for lone parents programme nationally and in the Leigh constituency is in the table.
	
		Number of lone parents gaining a job through the new deal for lone parents
		
			  Leigh constituency 
		
		
			 Male 40 
			 Female 700 
			 Total 740 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information on the number of people who have participated in the new deal for partners is not available at constituency level.
	2. Figures for lone parents who have gained work through other new deal programmes are not available.
	3. Totals include those for whom gender is not recorded. For this reason, and because of rounding, components will not necessarily sum to totals.
	4. Data is to September 2004.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Data Base

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of people who have entered the new deal for lone parents have started jobs since the programme was launched; and how many and what percentage of those who have (a) entered the programme and (b) started jobs were in receipt of income support (i) in the UK and (ii) broken down by constituency.

Jane Kennedy: The available information for Great Britain broken down by constituencies has been placed in the Library.

New Deal

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs have been created in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley by the new deal .

Jane Kennedy: The new deal is not a job creation scheme. It is designed to help unemployed and disadvantaged people into work or training. It has already been successful in helping more than 1.2 million people into employment, including 28,520 people in Lancashire and 1,580 people in the Chorley constituency.

New Deal

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) lone parents and (b) young people have gained work through the new deal programme.

Jane Kennedy: The available information is in the following table.
	
		Lone parents and young people helped into work through new deal
		
			  Individuals into work 
		
		
			 Lone parents 296,410 
			 Young people 580,760 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Lone parent data relates to the number of lone parents who have gained a job through the new deal for lone parents programme. Information on the number of lone parents who have gained a job through the other new deal programmes is not available.
	2. Young people data relates to the number of people who have gained a job through the new deal for young people programme and people aged 24 and under gaining a job through the new deal for lone parents, new deal for disabled people and new deal for partners programmes.
	3. Information on new deal for young people is from January 1998 to September 2004; Information on new deal for lone parents is from October 1998 to September 2004; Information on new deal for disabled people is from July 2001 to September 2004.
	4. Information on new deal for partners is from April 2002 to March 2004. new deal for partners information is not available from May 1999 to March 2002 as information broken down by age is not available for this period.
	5. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source :
	DWP Information Directorate

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each organisation contracted to deliver the new deal for disabled people receives in respect of each person they support into work.

Jane Kennedy: The funding structure of the new deal for disabled people provides the organisations who deliver it, the job brokers, with an initial payment, usually of 304 for each person who registers with them. Further payments are then made for each entry into a job and for each job that is sustained for at least 13 weeks. There is no standard rate for these latter payments. They vary from broker to broker and are consequently commercial in confidence.

New Deal

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs have been created in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East under the new deal.

Jane Kennedy: The new deal is not a job creation scheme. It is designed to help unemployed and disadvantaged people into work or training. It has already been successful in helping more than 1.2 million people into employment, including 2,890 in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

Parking

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: DWP was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment, including the Employment Service (ES). Information for the period prior to June 2001 refers only to the former DSS.
	DWP currently occupies approximately 1,800 buildings, of which there are only nine where the cost of car parking can be readily identified. For all other buildings car parking costs are not recorded separately from other occupancy costs.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Cost () 
		
		
			 199899 163,900 
			 19992000 61,400 
			 200001 58,700 
			 200102 61,100 
			 200203 167,000 
			 200304 243,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The information is not available for 1997.
	2. The increase in costs in 200203 and 200304 is due to the inclusion of expenditure on car park rental by HSE. This parking is in addition to the parking provided at any DWP site.
	The Department does not incur any costs relating to parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants.

Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are in receipt of pension credit; and what the average value is of awards.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit at national level and in each Government Office Region and constituency at 31 December 2004, with the average award, is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library.

Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency claim pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the following table.
	
		Pension credit recipients, Wallasey
		
			  Ward Pension credit recipients (households), December 2004 
		
		
			 Leasowe 960 
			 Liscard 935 
			 Moreton 730 
			 New Brighton 1,020 
			 Seacombe 1,050 
			 Wallasey 615 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All wards are based on census wards, current as at April 2003.
	2. All benefit counts at ward level are rounded to a multiple of five, to protect the confidentiality of individual claimants.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample.

Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Rochdale constituency have received pension credit in each year since it started.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table. Further information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library.
	
		Pension credit recipients, Rochdale, 200304
		
			 Date Households Individuals 
		
		
			 December 2003 4,510 5.465 
			 December 2004 5,485 6,710 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3. Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	6. The figures for December 2004 are the latest available.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in each ward in Blyth Valley were receiving (a) pension credit and (b) winter fuel payments on the latest date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table.
	
		Pension credit and winter fuel recipients, Blyth Valley
		
			 Ward Pension credit recipients (households), 31 December 2004 Winter fuel payments, winter 200304 
		
		
			 Cowpen 435 945 
			 Cramlington East 390 1,110 
			 Cramlington Eastfield with East Hartford 70 285 
			 Cramlington North 35 380 
			 Cramlington Parkside 60 365 
			 Cramlington South East 160 925 
			 Cramlington Village 255 1,125 
			 Cramlington West 185 540 
			 Croft 360 895 
			 Hartley 275 1,290 
			 Holywell 230 750 
			 Isabella 255 725 
			 Kitty Brewster 215 720 
			 Newsham and New Delaval 195 740 
			 Plessey 405 1,265 
			 Seaton Delaval 285 1,020 
			 Seghill 175 640 
			 South Beach 60 510 
			 South Newsham 35 455 
			 Wensleydale 245 805 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All wards are based on census wards, current as at April 2003.
	2. Winter fuel payment data for winter 200304 is the latest available. No figures are currently available for 200405.
	3. All benefit counts at ward level are rounded to a multiple of five, to protect the confidentiality of individual claimants.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library, from successful applications to the Pension Service Partnership Fund for (a) one year contracts and (b) two year contracts, anonymised information on how each applicant would (i) measure the progress and (ii) evaluate the success of their initiative; what each applicant listed as its expected outcome; and how many of the successful applications made reference to the number of people the proposed initiative aimed to target.

Malcolm Wicks: All one year and two year contracts awarded by the Pension Service Partnership Fund require successful applicants to provide monthly statistical returns to the DWP on the progress of their activity for the purpose of informing both the evaluation of the individual schemes and the fund as a whole.
	We anticipate that increased benefit take-up will be an end result of activity resourced through the fund and all successful applicants provided information on the potential numbers of benefit applications they expected to generate through their activities.
	The variation in the scale of the contracts awarded through the fund is significant with national and countywide schemes expecting to contact in excess of 50,000 individuals, and the smallest scale neighbourhood schemes intending to reach around 150200 potential benefit customers.
	Information on the expected outcomes of each successful applicant and their specific proposals for measuring progress and evaluating success is only available by individual scrutiny of their application and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Pensions

John Butterfill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will restore the indexing of pensions to British subjects living in overseas countries where uprating no longer takes place; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We have always uprated State Pensions for British citizens living overseas where there is a legal requirement or a reciprocal social security agreement to do so.
	However, the uprating of State Pensions outside this arrangement is the subject of an appeal to the House of Lords from a decision of the Court of Appeal which found in favour of the Government. We will respond accordingly at the hearing which is set for 28 February and 1 March this year.

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when the last pension order book was issued;
	(2)  how many pension order books are in circulation.

Chris Pond: The last pension order book was issued on 9 February 2005 and all order book production for the Pension Service ceased on 10 February. Information available at 2 February suggests that the total number of pension order books in circulation at that date was 1,016,908.

Publicity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 199697, (ii) 199798 and (iii) 200304; and what the estimated cost of each will be in (A) 200405, (B) 200506, (C) 200607 and (D) 200708.

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security, parts of the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Information on costs for 199698 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Details on spending on advertising and publicity in 2003 to 2004 are in the table:
	
		
		
			 200304 campaign Advertising expenditure Total publicity expenditure 
		
		
			 Future pensioners/Informed Choice  2,450,000 
			 Second State Pension 215,590 304,090 
			 Pensioners Guide  952,890 
			 Pension Credit 10,378,380 15,580,000 
			 The Pension Service 74,000 522,000 
			 Direct Payment 11,044,000 12,474,000 
			 Direct Payment roadshow  480,000 
			 Fraud 8,383,000 9,339,000 
			 New Deal 5,800,000 7,500,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus Awareness  557,170 
			 Jobcentre Direct 1,593,200 1,700,330 
			 Age Positive 66,000 882,000 
			 DDA Awareness and Disability Rights 775,220 2,450,000 
			 Council Tax Benefit 556,230 673,000 
			 Winter Fuel Payments 627,000 938,000 
			 Total 39,512,620 56,802,480 
		
	
	For 2004 to 2005 estimated total expenditure is in the table:
	
		
		
			 200405 campaign Advertising expenditure Total publicity expenditure 
		
		
			 Future pensioners/Informed Choice  854,400 
			 State Pension Deferral 200,000 300,000 
			 Pensioners Guide  1,000,000 
			 Pension Credit 4,023,810 6,500,000 
			 The Pension Service  559,000 
			 Direct Payment Information Campaign 8,808,000 9,500,000 
			 Direct Payment roadshow  3,000,000 
			 Fraud 6,450,000 7,150,000 
			 New Deal  1,650,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus employer marketing 443,000 1,300,000 
			 Jobcentre Plus Awareness  275,740 
			 Age Positive  600,000 
			 DDA Awareness 1,122,000 2,000,000 
			 Council Tax Benefit 661,640 850,000 
			 Winter Fuel Payments 514,910 815,000 
			 Total 22,223,360 36,354,140 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All costs exclude VAT.
	2. All figures have been rounded.
	3. Advertising costs are total media costs excluding all production costs.
	4. Information campaigns costing under 250,000 and details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses have generally not been included as a disproportionate cost would be incurred in compiling these figures.
	Decisions have not yet been made on future expenditure for 200506, 200607 and 200708.

Queen's Flight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions departmental Ministers have used the Queen's flight in each of the past five years.

Maria Eagle: Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service.
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 of more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/private charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 200405 will be published in due course.
	There is no record of any Ministers from DWP or its predecessor departments using the Queen's flight in the last five years.

Social Fund

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance given to Social Fund staff covering crisis loan applications from those in receipt of tax credits.

Chris Pond: A copy of the Social Fund Guide is available in the Library. Additional guidance for Social Fund staff contained in Social Fund Bulletin 11/04 released on 12 July 2004 has been placed in the Library.

Social Fund

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time for Social Fund (a) community care grants, (b) crisis loans and (c) budgeting loans has been in each year since 2002, broken down by region.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Actual average clearance times for Social Fund community care grants (CCGs), crisis loans (CLs) and budgeting loans (BLs) for the period April to December 2004
		
			 Government office region CCGs CLs BLs 
		
		
			 East of England 9.1 1.4 2.6 
			 East Midlands 9.3 1.3 3.5 
			 London 10.8 1.3 3.7 
			 North East 6.1 1.2 3.2 
			 North West 7.3 1.3 2.5 
			 Scotland 8.4 1.3 3.2 
			 South East 8.3 1.3 3.7 
			 South West 9.2 1.3 3.0 
			 Wales 6.8 1.4 2.2 
			 West Midlands 8.8 1.2 3.1 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 8.6 1.3 2.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data by GOR are not available for 200203 or 200304 due to boundary changes that occurred during this period.
	2. A small area of the East Midlands GOR is currently administered for Social Fund purposes from a district within the North West GOR. Regional data are built up from district data, therefore the data for these two GORs may be slightly inaccurate.
	3. The actual average clearance times for individual applications are measured in whole working days from the date the application is received until the date the decision is made.
	4. When a loan offer is made, the number of whole working days from receiving the applicant's reply to the recording of that reply is added to the clearance time.
	5. The minimum clearance time that can be recorded is one day.
	Source:
	Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System (PBMIS).

Staff Identity Passes

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information that is available is detailed as follows.
	The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) including the former Employment Service. The ex DSS part of the DWP Estate has been occupied under the terms of the PRIME PFI contract since April 1998. The PRIME contract was expanded in December 2003 to include former Employment Service properties.
	The Department pays a Facilities Unit Price (FUP) to Land Securities Trillium for such accommodation which includes costs of providing staff identity passes for the majority of DWP staff. Information on the costs of producing such passes is not separately identifiable. No central records are kept of passes that have been lost or stolen. Where records are kept they do not differentiate between cards that require replacement because they have been lost or stolen, because a name needs changing or because they have been broken.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) joined DWP in July 2002. The cost of producing identity passes for HSE staff averages out at 4.15 per pass. The number of passes lost since 1997 is 284; an annual breakdown is not available.
	The Rent Service joined DWP in April 2004. The cost of producing identity passes for Rent Service staff is 4.80 per pass, 18 passes have been reported lost or stolen since April 2004.

Staff Surveys

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid to consultants carrying out staff surveys in the Department in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is available only since 2002.
	The costs paid to consultants for the departmental staff survey was 244,000 in 2002 and 196,000 in 2003. The survey cycle for 2004 is not yet complete. These costs include the printing of survey related materials.
	The use of consultants provides an economy in terms of speed of analysis and also reassurance to staff as to the confidentiality of their responses. The consultants used by DWP manage an extensive benchmarking database, allowing results to be compared to other public and private sector organisations.

Stationery

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Department spent on (a) stationery and (b) office supplies in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Sure Start

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mothers in Leigh constituency have received the Sure Start maternity grant.

Chris Pond: The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the table.
	
		Sure Start maternity grant (SSMG) awards for Wigan and Leigh Social Fund District/Wigan Jobcentre plus district
		
			  Awards 
		
		
			 200001 1,055 
			 200102 1,209 
			 200203 1,405 
			 200304 1,385 
			 200405 to January 1,168 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. SSMGs were introduced on 27 March 2000.
	2. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency, but only by district.
	3. Leigh parliamentary constituency is part of Wigan Jobcentre plus district, which was previously called Wigan and Leigh social fund district.
	4. Data is given for all awards, irrespective of whether the award was made to the mother or her partner.
	Source:
	DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Telephone Claims Lines

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures the Government are taking to ensure that telephone claims lines are adequate to cope timeously with crisis loan applications; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mrs. Anne Picking, dated 21 February 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the measures the Government is taking to ensure that telephone claims lines are adequate to cope timeously with crisis loan applications. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Legislation was changed in 2002 to allow crisis loan applications to be taken by telephone. Since then, a varying level of service has been offered in different parts of the country, due to factors such as the telephony equipment available in different areas. While the telephone service has generally proved popular and efficient, in the few areas where there have been problems dealing with the high volume of calls, urgent local management action has been taken to improve the service for customers. Irrespective of the level or adequacy of the telephone service, customers retain a right to apply for a loan in person at a Jobcentre Plus office.
	For the future, we plan to reduce the number of offices processing Social Fund applications from 142 to around 20, and to implement a standard operating model for the Fund. We are piloting the new model in two Welsh district offices and aim to roll it out nationally from April 2005 onwards. The model includes a standard telephone service for crisis loans, supported by the appropriate telephone technology. The increased size of the processing units will give much greater staffing flexibility and allow us to assign staff as necessary to meet fluctuating customer demand. Although the telephone will become the normal and preferred method of taking crisis loan applications, we will retain the option of face to face interviews for people who require them.
	I hope this is helpful,

Winter Fuel Payments

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior citizens in Leigh constituency have received the winter fuel allowance since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of senior citizens who have received a winter fuel payment in Leigh in each year for which figures are available is in the Library.

Winter Fuel Payments

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Morecambe and Lunesdale have received each level of the winter fuel allowance in 200405.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not yet available for winter 200405. Information on the number of payments made at each level in Morecombe and Lunesdale for winter 200304 is in the Library. We would expect the numbers to be similar for this winter.

Winter Fuel Payments

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Rochdale constituency received the winter fuel allowance in 200405; and what total amount of payments this represented.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not yet available for winter 200405. Information about the number of payments at each rate to people in the Rochdale constituency for winter 200304 is in the Library. We would expect the number to be similar for this winter.

Winter Fuel Payments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the winter fuel payment is treated as a recurring item of pension income expenditure in his Department's budget.

Malcolm Wicks: Expenditure on the winter fuel payment is included in each year of the DWP's benefit expenditure forecasts. The latest medium-term forecast was published following the pre-Budget report, and continues to 200708. Long-term spending projections also include the winter fuel payment.
	Benefit expenditure forecast information is published on the internet at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp.

Winter Fuel Payments

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost of overpayment of the winter fuel payment in each of the last three years;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to recover over-payments of the winter fuel payment.

Malcolm Wicks: It is departmental policy to recover all overpayments that arise from misrepresentation or fraud. If a customer receives an excess amount because of official error they may in some circumstances be invited to repay it. Information about the total cost of overpayments of the winter fuel payment is not collected centrally.

Winter Fuel Payments

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) people and (b) households in (i) Leicester, South and (ii) the City of Leicester were (A) eligible to receive and (B) received winter fuel payments in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of people or households that were eligible for a winter fuel payment. Information on the number of winter fuel payments made in Leicester, South and City of Leicester in each year for which figures are available is in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol-related Crime

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 December 2004, Official Report, columns 152627W, on alcohol-related crimes, what the level of alcohol-related crime was; and how many fixed penalties were issued in each of the 92 participating basic command units.

Hazel Blears: Data on whether alcohol was involved in the commission of an offence is not collected centrally. The number of fixed penalty notices issued as part of the campaign is set out in the table.
	
		
			Force BCU Total FPNs issued for alcohol related offences in summer campaign 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset Bath and North East Somerset 20 
			  Bristol 72 
			 Bedfordshire C DivisionLuton 37 
			 Cambridgeshire Southern division 5 
			 Cheshire Macclesfield 19 
			 City of London Bishopsgate 0 
			  Snow Hill 0 
			 Cleveland Middlesbrough 29 
			 Cumbria Barrow and South Lakeland 99 
			  North 41 
			  North Cumbria 1 
			  West Cumbria 4 
			  Southern Division 0 
			 Derbyshire A Division 18 
			  B Division 4 
			  Chesterfield 30 
			  Derby division 37 
			 Devon and Cornwall Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 24 
			  Plymouth 29 
			  Plymouth East 0 
			 Dorset Bournemouth 25 
			 Durham Durham City 35 
			  South 32 
			 Dyfed Powys Powys division 41 
			 Essex Southend 42 
			 Gloucestershire Cheltenham and Tewkesbury 16 
			  Cotswolds and Stroud 25 
			  Forest and Gloucester 26 
			 Greater Manchester Police Bolton 32 
			  North Manchester 16 
			  Wigan 53 
			  North Manchester 28 
			  Rochdale 60 
			 Guildford Surrey 1 
			 Hampshire Basingstoke 28 
			  NE Hants 5 
			  Portsmouth 31 
			  Solent East 41 
			  Southampton 66 
			 Hertfordshire Western Area 17 
			 Humberside A Division 34 
			  B Division 19 
			  C Division 96 
			  Grimsby Cleethorpes 15 
			  Hull 125 
			 Humberside B Division 12 
			 Kent Area 7 Thanet 2 
			  SE Kent 13 
			 Lancashire Blackpool 167 
			  Pennine Division (Burnley) 110 
			  Preston 89 
			  Western 39 
			 Leicestershire Central Area 116 
			  East 19 
			 Merseyside Knowsley 5 
			  Sefton 38 
			  Wirral 74 
			 Metropolitan Barnet 94 
			  Camden 131 
			  Havering 43 
			  Hillingdon 80 
			  Islington 114 
			  Kingston 44 
			  Lewisham 29 
			  Newham 0 
			  Twickenham 42 
			  Westminster 147 
			  Richmond-upon- Thames 3 
			 North Wales Western 16 
			  Central 2 
			  Eastern 2 
			  Wrexham 47 
			 North Yorkshire Eastern 50 
			 Northamptonshire Northampton 17 
			  Northern 52 
			 Nottinghamshire A Division 41 
			  Bassetlaw Newark and Sherwood 30 
			  C Division 37 
			  D Division 2 
			  Nottingham City 25 
			  South Notts 3 
			 South Wales Bridgend 18 
			  Cardiff 1 
			  Swansea 38 
			 South Yorkshire Sheffield central 19 
			 Staffordshire Cannock 1 
			  Chase 23 
			  North Staffordshire 30 
			  Stafford 3 
			  Stoke on Trent 59 
			  Trent Valley 39 
			 Suffolk Southern Area (Ipswich) 30 
			 Surrey Guildford 12 
			 Sussex Brighton and Hove 64 
			 Thames Valley police Maidenhead 3 
			 Warwickshire South 61 
			 West Mercia E Division Hereford 27 
			 West midlands Dudley North 23 
			  F1 Birmingham City Centre 54 
			  M1 OCU Coventry 67 
			 West Yorkshire Bradford south 90 
			  Calderdale 99 
			  Leeds 99 
			  Wakefield 48 
			  Huddersfield 47 
			 Total  4,068

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in each district in Lancashire since they were introduced, broken down by age group and sex.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the following table.
	
		Number of ASBOs issued in Lancashire, as notified to the Home Office by all courts, where restriction are imposed within local authorities within the county of Lancashire by sex and age group of recipient from 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2004
		
			   Male Female 
			 County/local authority area Total persons Aged 10 to 17 Aged 18 and over All ages Aged 10 to 17 Aged 18 and over All ages 
		
		
			 Lancashire 109 57 42 99 5 5 10 
			 
			 Blackburn with Darwen BC 8 4 2 6 0 2 2 
			 Blackpool BC 13 10 1 11 2 0 2 
			 Burnley BC 26 10 13 23 2 1 3 
			 Chorley BC 5 3 2 5 0 0 0 
			 Fylde BC 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 
			 Hyndburn BC 10 2 7 9 0 1 1 
			 Lancaster CC 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 
			 Pendle BC 5 5 0 5 0 0 0 
			 Preston BC 10 5 5 10 0 0 0 
			 Ribble Valley BC 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 
			 Rossendale BC 10 9 1 10 0 0 0 
			 South Ribble BC 4 0 4 4 0 0 0 
			 West Lancashire DC 6 3 2 5 1 0 1 
			 Wyre BC 3 0 2 2 0 1 1 
		
	
	Note:
	ASBOs were introduced under The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 , however data from 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 are not available as they were collected on aggregate numbers only at police force area level. The number of ASBOs issued during the period within Lancashire police force area was five.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) criminal antisocial behaviour orders and (b) antisocial behaviour orders have been secured by courts since the introduction of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 in (i) Birmingham, (ii) Bristol, (iiii) Leeds, (iv) Liverpool, (v) Manchester, (vi) Newcastle, (vii) Nottingham and (viii) Sheffield.

Hazel Blears: The Anti-social Behaviour Act received royal assent in November 2003. antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced under The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and have been available since April 1999. ASBOs following conviction were introduced under The Police Reform Act 2002 and have been available since December 2002.
	Available information, including the availability of ASBOs since the introduction of the Anti-social Behaviour Act, is given in the table.
	
		Number of ASBOs issued, as notified to the Home Office, from 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2004 (latest available) by type of ASBO and local authority area where restrictions have been imposed
		
			  Local authority where restrictions have been imposed 
			  Birmingham Bristol Leeds Liverpool Manchester Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Nottingham Sheffield 
		
		
			 ASBOs issued on application  
			 2000 3 2 2 1 0 0 3 0 
			 June(187) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 July to September 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 
			 October to December 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 2001 13 9 8 4 13 4 8 4 
			 January to March 2 2 4 1 2 0 0 0 
			 April to June 8 5 0 2 1 0 8 0 
			 July to September 2 1 4 0 4 0 0 3 
			 October to December 1 1 0 1 6 4 0 1 
			  
			 2002 10 5 5 17 41 4 1 9 
			 January to March 0 0 1 3 4 2 0 0 
			 April to June 5 2 3 6 8 1 0 0 
			 July to September 1 2 0 2 16 0 1 4 
			 October to December 4 1 1 6 13 1 0 5 
			  
			 2003 6 2 51 21 69 2 2 5 
			 January to March 0 0 9 3 6 1 0 0 
			 April to June(188) 6 0 8 2 15 1 0 0 
			 July to September 0 2 14 10 22 0 2 5 
			 October to December 0 0 20 6 26 0 0 0 
			  
			 2004 2 3 77 9 61 1 0 6 
			 January to March(189) 1 3 50 6 32 1 0 2 
			 April to June 1 0 27 3 29 0 0 4 
			  
			 ASBOs issued following conviction   
			 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 October to December(190) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2003 19 7 3 3 7 2 6 2 
			 January to March 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 April to June 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 
			 July to September 6 5 1 0 2 0 2 0 
			 October to December 8 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 
			  
			 2004 20 10 11 13 11 1 16 3 
			 January to March 10 1 4 7 8 1 8 0 
			 April to June 10 9 7 6 3 0 8 3 
			  
			 All ASBO issued
			 Total 73 38 157 68 202 14 36 29 
		
	
	(187) Introduced under The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 ASBOs were made available to the magistrates courts, acting in their civil capacity, on application, from 1 April 1999. However data from 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 are not available as they were collected on aggregate numbers only at police force area level.
	(188) The Police Reform Act 2002 authorised application to the county courts, as from 1 April 2003, where there are existing proceedings, for an ASBO to be issued.
	(189) As from 31 March 2004 the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 added housing action trusts (HATS) and English county councils to the list of relevant authorities who can apply for an ASBO or an order in county court proceedings.
	(190) As from 2 December 2002 The Police Reform Act 2002 gave authority to the magistrates courts acting in their criminal capacity, and the Crown Court to issue ASBOs following conviction.

Anti-terrorism Measures

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to institute anti-terrorism measures in inner-city schools, with particular reference to (a) the replacement of glass in windows with laminated glass, (b) the installation of anti-bomb litter bins and (c) increased patrol security.

Derek Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department has issued guidelines for schools on the use of laminated glass or safety film to maintain the integrity of windows, and on the use of security patrols. We have also issued guidance on school security overall, and the Security Service has issued advice on protective security for organisations. The Government is always looking at ways of protecting people and works hard to strengthen our defences against terrorist attacks by having proportionate protective and preventative security in place. In schools, employers are responsible for security measures as part of their responsibility in law for health and safety at work.

Asylum Seekers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral statement of 7 February 2005, Official Report, columns 118198, on the Five Year Asylum Strategy, what abuses he has identified in relation to the operation of family visit appeals.

Des Browne: 'Controlling our borders: Making migration work for Britain' is the product of a review of the whole immigration and asylum system, including appeal rights and the appeals system. The strategy sets out proposals to remove appeal rights for student and employment routes into the United Kingdom, but states that we will retain the right of appeal for family visitors because we recognise the importance of family life. We are, however, confronted with rising numbers of family visit applications and appeals. We recognise that family visit appeals need to be considered quickly, if they are to be of value to appellants. We also have a duty to ensure that the asylum and immigration appeals system as a whole is able to function effectively. We have decided, in order to make the best use of available resources, and to provide a fair and efficient appeals process for appellants, that family visit appeals should be dealt with on the papers only and to limit the right of appeal to close family members.

Asylum Seekers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated public cost of supporting asylum seekers in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland has been in each year since 199697.

Des Browne: The answer is not available in the precise format requested. It is only possible to provide information on the direct costs (financial support and accommodation) for the whole of the United Kingdom.
	
		Costs of providing support to asylum seekers
		
			 Financial year  million(191) 
		
		
			 199697 413 
			 199798 375 
			 199899 475 
			 19992000 589 
			 200001 747 
			 200102 1,046 
			 200203 1,070 
			 200304 1,007 
		
	
	(191) All figures rounded to nearest million.

Asylum Seekers

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral statement on 7 February 2005, Official Report, column 1190, what his estimate of the number of asylum seekers resident in Kent is.

Des Browne: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives.
	At the end of September 2004 there were 265 1 asylum seekers in Kent 2 recorded as in receipt of National Asylum Support Service (NASS) support.
	Corresponding figures for those not in receipt of NASS support are not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	Numbers of asylum seekers receiving MASS accommodation support and numbers receiving NASS subsistence only support, are published on a quarterly and annual basis. The next publication, providing information relating to the end of the fourth quarter of 2004 (October to December), will be published shortly.
	1 This figure is rounded to the nearest five and covers both those receiving NASS accommodation support and those receiving NASS subsistence only support
	2 Kent is defined as the 12 local authorities (Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells) and one Unitary Authority (Medway).

Asylum Seekers

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to authorise outstanding monies due from his Department to Kent county council in respect of payments for costs arising for provision for asylum seekers.

Des Browne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not readily agree with the claim by Kent county council that any additional payments are outstanding. Officials from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are working with officials from Kent county council to reconcile the claim that money remains owing. If it is found that money is owing, consideration will be given to payment.

Asylum Seekers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people arrived in Britain seeking asylum in 2004.

Des Browne: The available information relates to when asylum applications were made, rather than when applicants arrived in the UK.
	25,465 principal applicants (30,180 including dependants) sought asylum between January and September 2004 in the United Kingdom. Applications have fallen by two thirds from their peak level in 2002.
	Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication, covering the last quarter of 2004 (October to December), and including provisional 2004 totals, will be published shortly.

Asylum Seekers

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to return unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to their countries of origin; and what consultation will be carried out on those plans.

Des Browne: We have been developing a returns programme for some time for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASCs) who are under 18 years of age and whose asylum or Humanitarian Protection claims have been refused.
	Only those UASCs for whom an appropriate package of reception care and support has been put in place, or whose families have been traced, will be returned. The programme will be piloted in Albania. We set out our intentions in this area in Controlling our borders: Making Migration Work For Britain, Five year strategy for asylum and immigration (Cm 6472, February 2005, paragraph 76).
	Other Government Departments, non-governmental organisations and local authorities have been closely consulted throughout the development of the programme. We have also engaged formally with the Albanian Government both in Albania and the UK.

Asylum Seekers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government are planning to return unaccompanied asylum seeker children to their countries of origin.

Des Browne: We have been developing a returns programme for some time for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASCs) who are under 18 years of age and whose asylum or Humanitarian Protection claims have been refused.
	Only those UASCs for whom an appropriate package of reception care and support has been put in place, or whose families have been traced, will be returned. The programme will be piloted in Albania. We set out our intentions in this area in Controlling our borders: Making Migration Work For Britain, Five year strategy for asylum and immigration (Cm 6472, February 2005, paragraph 76).

Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian personnel were assigned to each basic command unit of the Avon and Somerset constabulary in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 February 2005
	Police officer strength by basic command unit was not collected centrally prior to 31 March 2002 and police staff prior to 31 March 2003.
	The available information for Avon and Somerset constabulary is given in the table.
	
		
			  Police officers Police staff 
			  2002(192) 2003(192) 2004(192) 2003(192) 2004(192) 
		
		
			 Bath and North East Somerset 228 224 224 43 56 
			 Central Bristol 367 378 385 51 71 
			 North Bristol 263 255 270 42 49 
			 North Somerset 203 213 227 49 61 
			 Somerset East 255 257 266 66 89 
			 Somerset West 295 295 308 65 99 
			 South Bristol 251 251 258 46 52 
			 South Gloucestershire 265 263 267 55 61 
		
	
	(192) As at 31 March.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full-time equivalent head count for Avon and Somerset constabulary was in each of the last eight years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 February 2005
	Information on police service strength is published annually in a Home Office statistical bulletin and half-yearly in an online report. The latest figures were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 13/04, Police Service Strength England and Wales, 31 March 2004.
	Full-time equivalent strength for Avon and Somerset constabulary is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officers Police staff Community support officers Traffic wardens Total strength 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 2,989 1,439  108 4,536 
			 31 March 1998 2,976 1,393  114 4,483 
			 31 March 1999 2,999 1,425  115 4,539 
			 31 March 2000 2,934 1,436  59 4,429 
			 31 March 2001 2,994 1,452  48 4,494 
			 31 March 2002 3,096 1,611  44 4,751 
			 31 March 2003(193) 3,149 1,767  43 4,959 
			 31 March 2004(193) 3,401 1,952 45 34 5,432 
		
	
	(193) Comparable strength with previous years. Excludes staff on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

Bail

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have broken their bail conditions in each year since 1997; and what offences they had committed.

Paul Goggins: It is not possible from data collected via the Home Office Court Proceedings database to identify the number of people who have skipped bail nor the offences they had committed.
	However, statistics of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for the offence 'absconding by person released on bail' is as follows:
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under S.6 Bail Act 1976, England and Wales 1997 to 2003(194)
		
			  Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 1997 44,245 26,068 
			 1998 45,495 26,669 
			 1999 45,203 26,750 
			 2000 41,847 24,271 
			 2001 45,047 24,559 
			 2002 52,187 27,704 
			 2003 57,562 30,025 
		
	
	(194) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	Statistics for 2004 will be available in the autumn.

CCTV

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grant schemes are available for CCTV in (a) villages in Lancashire and (b) railway stations at (i) Coppall, (ii) Acklington, (iii) Astley Village, (iv) Clayton and (v) Euxton.

Hazel Blears: All Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) within Lancashire receive the following grants, which could potentially be used to purchase and install CCTV cameras within each district:
	The Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) (including funding for an anti-social behaviour co-ordinator); and
	The Basic Command Unit (BCD) Fund.
	It is for the CDRP in each area to decide, as a partnership, what the priorities for that area are and what interventions will be used to tackle them.
	All of the railway stations identified are within Chorley and, so, the Building Safer Communities and Basic Command Unit Funds are all potential funding streams.

Child Curfew Orders

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Child Curfew Orders have been made under the scheme introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Paul Goggins: No applications have been received to establish a local child curfew scheme under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The powers in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 for the dispersal of groups and the removal of persons under 16 to their place of residence have been used in preference to this power.

Community Sentences

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase public confidence in community sentences as an alternative to prison.

Paul Goggins: The Government believe that prison should be reserved for serious, violent and seriously persistent offenders. For all other offenders, alternatives to prison can often be more effective in addressing offender behaviour than short custodial sentences. The new generic community sentence, provided by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, will be commenced on 4 April 2005. This will give the courts a flexible range of tough community punishments suitable for dealing with a wide range of offenders whose offence is too serious for them to be fined but who do not fall into the serious, violent or seriously persistent category.
	The Government recognise that there is a lack of public knowledge and understanding of community sentences.
	That is why the National Offender Management Service has launched a major communications campaign which aims to demonstrate that community sentences are both tough and demanding whilst providing the opportunity for offenders to give something back directly to the community. It will target national, regional and local media to secure the broadest public audience.
	There is a national visibility scheme in place to identify community work done by offenders. In the next few weeks a 'Clean Up' campaign will start in 10 regions, which will give local people the opportunity to have a say in the unpaid work to be done by offenders as part of their community punishment.

Community Support Officers (London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 20,000 community support officers the Government proposes to recruit by 2008 are to be posted in Greater London; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Community support officers are a key element of neighbourhood policing. We have made provision of 50 million available for the first phase of the Neighbourhood Policing Fund by enabling forces to commence recruitment of an additional 1,568 community support officers (CSOs). The Metropolitan police were allocated 250 of these CSOs. The City of London police applied for their first allocation of CSOs and received 16 in this funding round. These CSOs will help to build the total number in England and Wales to 5,500 by 31 March 2005.
	Decisions about further allocations will be made in the coming months to assist forces in reaching the target of 24,000 CSOs in 2008. We are currently discussing the criteria for investment under the Neighbourhood Policing Fund with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Police Authorities and other stakeholders.

Contempt Laws

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform the laws of contempt.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The law of contempt plays a vital role in safeguarding the administration of justice and there are no plans to reform it. The Attorney General issued guidance to the media on the publication of articles amounting to contempt in his keynote address to the Law for Journalists Conference in November 2003 (available at www.lslo.gov.uk) and in his speech to the Weber Shandwick Contempt Seminar in November 2004 (available from the Attorney General's press office).

Coroners' Inquests

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances a delay of over three years might occur between a suspicious death and a coroner's inquest.

Paul Goggins: Such a delay would be highly unusual. It may be difficult to obtain all the evidence required by the coroner, particularly if the death occurred abroad. Or the coroner may be awaiting the outcome of criminal proceedings or investigations by other bodies.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer the letter dated 30 December 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Amanat Ullah.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 2 February 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 6 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Jim Holloway.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 16 February.

Crime Statistics

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of violent crime in Ribble Valley and Fulwood was in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to the Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area and is given in the table. Data at CDRP level is only available from 19992000. Since 1997, there have been two major changes to the way crime is recorded. The effect of the change in the counting rules in 1998 was to artificially increase recorded violent crime nationally by more than 80 per cent. while it is estimated that the effect of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002 caused a further 20 per cent. increase in recorded violent crime in its first year.
	
		Table 1: Recorded offences of violent crime in the Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area19992000 to 200102
		
			 Period Number of violent crimes 
		
		
			 199798 n/a 
			 199899 n/a 
			 19992000 161 
			 200001 194 
			 200102 334 
		
	
	n/a = Not available
	Note:
	The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Recorded offences of violent crime in the Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area200203 and 200304
		
			 Period Number of violent crimes 
		
		
			 200203 330 
			 200304 473 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crime Statistics

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recorded level of (a) crime and (b) violent crime was in Surrey in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the tables.
	Since 1997, there have been two major changes to the way crime is recorded. The effect of the change in the counting rules in 1998 was to artificially increase recorded violent crime nationally by more than 80 per cent. while it is estimated that the effect of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002 caused a further 20 per cent. increase in recorded violent crime in its first year.
	
		Table 1: Total and violent crime recorded by the police in Surrey, 199798 to 200102
		
			 Number of offences 
			  Total crime Violent crime 
		
		
			 199798(195) 38,015 3,447 
			 199899(196) 42,467 4,914 
			 19992000 46,288 6,099 
			 200001(197) 63,321 9,014 
			 200102 61,970 7,908 
		
	
	(195) The number of crimes recorded using the coverage and rules in use until 31 March 1998.
	(196) The number of crimes recorded using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.
	(197) Surrey experienced boundary changes in April 2000 which increased the size of the force area.
	Note:
	The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Total and violent crime recorded by the police in Surrey, 200203 and 200304
		
			 Number of offences 
			  Total crime Violent crime 
		
		
			 200203 68,452 9,718 
			 200304 73,252 10,858 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Criminal Records Bureau

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow colleges and universities to have access to the Criminal Records Bureau for the vetting of potential students.

Hazel Blears: All colleges and universities have access to the Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure service to enable them to apply for criminal records checks for members of staff whose duties involve looking after children and/or vulnerable adults. The service can also enable criminal records checks to be conducted against students whose studies would, through placements, bring them into contact with children and vulnerable adults; for example student nurses and those studying for teaching qualifications.
	There have been no requests made by the Department for Education and Skills nor are there any plans by the Home Office to extend the checks to other students.

Departmental Establishment

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent jobs (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies had in (i) Yorkshire and the Humber and (ii) the City of York in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the former Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 1053W. The following is an extract from the information placed in the House of Commons Library.
	
		Permanent staff in Yorks and Humberside, and York from 1997 to 2004 by Department
		
			 Full-time equivalent 
			  As at 1 April: 
			 Department/Location 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Home Office
			 York 0 0 0 
			 Elsewhere in Yorks and Humberside 170 160 160 
			 Total 170 160 160 
			 
			 HM Prison Service
			 Elsewhere in Yorks and Humberside 3,540 4,250 4,260 
			 Total 3,540 4,250 4,260 
			 
			 Combined Home Office and Prison Service Agency 
			 Total 3,710 4,410 4,420

Deportation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on prison overcrowding for each category of prison of foreign nationals who, having completed their sentence, continue to be detained, awaiting deportation.

Paul Goggins: No study has been made of the effect of overcrowding on each category of prison holding foreign nationals who are detained after their sentence and awaiting deportation. The numbers however are relatively small and do not have any significant effect on prison accommodation.

European Public Bodies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the activity of the European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction in the UK in the last 12 months; and if he will list its publications and newsletters published over that period.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (EMCCDDA) collects, analyses and disseminates information on drugs and drug addiction based on data supplied by the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Union. Its publications aim to provide an evidence-based picture of drug misuse and addiction across Europe for a range of audiences including policy-makers, professionals and the general public.
	In the past 12 months, the EMCCDDA has published:
	Annual Report 2004The state of the drugs problem in the European Union and Norway.
	Drugs in Focus, EMCDDA policy briefings (three issues).
	Drugnet Europe, EMCDDA newsletters (four issues).
	An overview of cannabis potency in Europe, EMCDDA insights 6.
	Hepatitis C and injecting Drug use: impact costs and policy option, EMCDDA monographs 7.
	Report on the risk assessment of TMA-2 in the framework of the joint action on new synthetic drugs.
	Report on the risk assessment 2C-I, 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7 in the framework of the joint action on new synthetic drugs.

European Refugee Fund

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on UK participation in the European Refugee Fund.

Des Browne: The European Refugee Fund has been for some years an important source of support for Britain's programmes for the integration of refugees and the voluntary return of asylum seekers to their own countries. The UK will participate in the new phase of the Fund which began in January 2005. Actions carried out in the UK will be implemented on the basis of guidelines which will be issued by the Commission on the basis of two phases of Multi-annual Programmes, each lasting three years (200507 and 200810).

European Refugee Fund

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the application of Article 8(c) of the European Refugee Fund in the United Kingdom; and what rules have been drawn up to assure balanced representation of views in such projects.

Des Browne: Article 8(c) of the Council Decision establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 200510 (13086/84) envisages the possibility of the expenditure of such funds on multi-national awareness raising-campaigns relating to the situation of refugees, stateless persons, and people otherwise in need of protection. It will be for member states to draw up, after consultation, proposals for the expenditure of the Fund within their countries. The process of consultation will take place later this year and the Government would not propose to pre-empt it by taking a firm view at this stage on whether rules would be needed in respect of expenditure under Article 8(c) .

Female Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of women were homeless on leaving prison in the last period for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: Recorded information on the discharges of female prisoners between April and December 2004 shows that 19 per cent. had no address on release. All prisoners who are discharged with no address to go to are referred for a Local Authority Homelessness Assessment.

Gurkhas

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1738W, on Gurkhas, what criteria were used to determine the cut-off date of 1 July 1997 for eligibility.

Des Browne: The date of 1 July 1997 recognises when the Brigade of Gurkhas moved their headquarters from Hong Kong to the UK. Settlement is normally granted on the basis of residence in the UK and so it was considered appropriate to enable all those discharged after this date, and who would have developed close physical ties with the UK through being based here, to be able to apply for settlement. However, applications from Gurkhas discharged before 1 July 1997 will be considered on their individual merits, and discretion will be exercised in appropriate cases. Factors such as time spent in the UK, the presence of close family members here, or a chronic medical condition will be taken into account in reaching a decision on applications that are outside the rules.

High Visibility Policing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with chief constables concerning high visibility policing.

Hazel Blears: Neighbourhood policing, of which high visibility is an important element, is a key priority for Government for the next five years. We see effective and responsive policing at the neighbourhood level as essential to sustaining the trust and confidence of the public. However, unlike previous community policing initiatives, neighbourhood policing is about more than just public reassurance and high visibilityit does not stand in isolation from other levels of policing, but is essential in tackling the 21st century challenges of crime and antisocial behaviour.
	We are working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on a programme to embed a neighbourhood policing approach in all forces by 2008, and my officials meet regularly with the ACPO lead for neighbourhood policingthe Chief Constable of Leicesterto discuss progress. I have regular bilaterals with the president of ACPO to discuss policing priorities, and I met with Chief Constables from all 43 forces in England and Wales on 12 January to discuss progress on a range of police reform issues, including the approach to neighbourhood policing set out in the Police Reform White Paper, Building Communities, Beating Crime.

Home Detention Curfews

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were committed by prisoners while released on the home detention curfew scheme since January 1999; what the category of each offence was; and on how many occasions the offence committed was similar in character to that for which the prisoner had originally been sentenced.

Paul Goggins: As of 31 October 2004, 101,806 prisoners have been placed on home detention curfew since the scheme was introduced in January 1999. Up to 31 October 2004, 2,107 of those prisoners have been reported to the Home Office as having been cautioned, convicted or awaiting prosecution for an offence committed while they were subject to the scheme. This represents around 2 per cent. of the offenders placed on the scheme.
	The following table gives a breakdown of these figures into offence category for the last five years up to 31 October 2004. These figures will be subject to constant change as further data is provided, such as when court proceedings on outstanding charges are completed.
	
		
			  Total breakdown of all further offences from January 1999 to 31 October 2004 Total further offences committed that are similar to the index offence 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 471 60 
			 Sexual offences 10 0 
			 Burglary 161 68 
			 Robbery 44 8 
			 Theft and handling 906 288 
			 Fraud and forgery 119 14 
			 Drug offences 313 54 
			 Motoring offences 1,023 120 
			 Other 701 7 
			 Total 3,748 619

Identity Cards and Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 472W, on the Identity Cards Programme, what issues were under discussion at the meetings held with (a) the Football Association and (b) Idenex; and what conclusions were reached.

Des Browne: The topic of discussion at the meeting between the Identity Cards Programme and TMG.TV Ltd. which was representing the Football Association was the potential use of ID Cards for those organisations who either currently or may in the future require certain employees to undertake Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks. In this instance, the discussion focused around local football teams and volunteers and the potential requirement on coaches for children's football teams to undertake CRB checks and how this may work with the introduction of ID Cards. The purpose of the meeting was to inform both parties' understanding of the issues, rather than to reach any specific conclusions.
	This meeting was with Identix and I apologise for the typographical error in the original answer. The meeting was part of market sounding process to inform the Programme Team's knowledge of capability and capacity in the biometrics technology sector. The company provided insight on the experience of large scale deployments of biometric technology. Following the meeting the company provided the team with further information on the international structure of relevant standards setting bodies together with various case studies and product brochures.

Identity Cards and Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Passport Service biometrics trial has included groups who by reason of their disabilities are unable to provide biometric data.

Des Browne: A sample of 750 people with disabilities was included in the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) trial. In making these arrangements the UKPS engaged with organisations representing people with disabilities to ensure that issues relating to difficulty in providing biometric data were identified. These issues were recorded during the trial for analysis in order to seek resolutions.

Immigration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce (a) a green card system and (b) an independent body to handle immigration requests.

Des Browne: The Government's proposals for a new system to manage the admission of non-EEA nationals coming to the United Kingdom for the purpose of work are set out in the five year strategy for asylum and immigration announced by my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary on 7 February 2005. Under those proposals, Tier 1 of the employment scheme would provide for the admission of the most highly skilled without an advance offer of a job. Applications for admission to work under the new system would continue to be handled by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and UK Visas. However, it is proposed to establish an independent skills advisory body to advise on labour market and skills shortages.

Immigration

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) immigration officers and (b) senior immigration officers (i) are in post and (ii) form a full complement at the docks in (A) Hull, (B) Harwich, (C) Portsmouth, (D) Poole, (E) Plymouth and (F) Dover.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the information in the table.
	
		
			 Port Number of FTE(198) immigration officers in post Target FTE immigration officer staffing figure Number of FTE senior immigration officers(199) in post Target FTE senior immigration officer staffing figure 
		
		
			 Humber Ports(200) 19 20 4 5 
			 Harwich 25.8 26.8 5.8 5.8 
			 Portsmouth 48.6 49.6 9 9 
			 Poole 20.7 20.8 3.8 3.8 
			 Plymouth 13.4 13.6 2 2 
			 Calais(201) 249.3 237 37.5 51 
		
	
	(198) FTE = Full-time equivalent.
	(199) Senior immigration officers have been defined as chief immigration officers and HM inspectors.
	(200) Staff at Humber Ports are deployed to Hull port, Humberside airport and other areas including Immingham docks.
	(201) Following the establishment of the juxtaposed controls in France, immigration officials operating the control for passengers arriving in Dover are based in Calais.

Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training members of staff in the front line services of immigration in the UK receive.

Des Browne: In depth training is provided to front line immigration staff, including Immigration Officers and caseworkers, specific to their role. This is supplemented by mentoring and coaching in the workplace, and by a range of broader learning activities, covering diversity, management and IT for example.

Inquests

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether inquests can be adjourned indefinitely; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Yes, a coroner has the power, and in certain circumstances is obliged, to adjourn an inquest indefinitely. These are cases where any criminal proceedings arising out of the death are pending or envisaged and cases where a public inquiry is to be held into the events surrounding the death. The coroner has discretion to resume the inquest on conclusion of the criminal proceedings or public inquiry. Cases involving a member of the visiting forces must also be adjourned and can only be resumed on the direction of the Secretary of State.

Inquests

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a limit on the amounts of money that can be spent by coroners' offices on legal fees in opposing the re-opening of an inquest; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The costs of such proceedings shall be met by the coroner's local authority, subject to those costs being reasonable and also that the authority agrees to indemnify the coroner in advance. The coroner may appeal to the Secretary of State against any decision made by the authority in these circumstances. There is no legal limit as to the costs of the proceedings.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he expects the (a) role and (b) function of the National Offender Management Service to be by April 2007; and what percentage of those functions will be run by the statutory services of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: By April 2007, budget allocations for offender management on probation areas and prisons will be agreed by Regional Offender Managers (ROMs), the common offender database (NOMIS) will be on line and the Criminal Justice Act 2003, including custody plus provisions, will have been implemented. ROMs will continue to oversee and influence the work of offender managers and, with the National Offender Manager, to develop the commissioning and contestability of services for offenders.
	As announced on 20 July 2004, offender managers will remain employed by Probation Boards at this stage. As the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) develops, the end state will involve changes to the role of Boards and to the management relations between ROMs and offender managers. Detailed feasibility work and consultation will be undertaken before final decisions are made.

National Offender Management Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether comments are being sought on the Vision Statement for the National Offender Management Service from stakeholders.

Paul Goggins: Yes. The Vision and Blueprint for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), dated 24 January, was circulated to trade unions via the NOMS Joint Consultative Council and to probation and prison staff on 1 February through their respective internal communications networks. The documents are a record of the agreed view of the NOMS board. Staff were invited to comment and offer views via e-mail.

National Offender Management Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any members of the National Offender Management Service Performance Board have resigned during the last three months.

Paul Goggins: During the last three months Judy McKnight (NAPO) and Colin Moses (POA) have withdrawn from the National Offender Management Board.

National Offender Management Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that probation boards continue to maintain probation accountability to local communities under the National Offender Management Service structure.

Paul Goggins: The final structure of the National Offender Management Service is still the subject of detailed planning and consultation. Links with local communities is a key consideration. The Management of Offenders and Sentencing Bill, which is currently before Parliament, does not alter the principle upon which Boards currently operate.

National Offender Management Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he received from (a) individuals and (b) organisations in favour of dividing the Probation Service into Offender Management and Interventions, during the 2004 consultation process.

Paul Goggins: Representations were published in the summary of responses to two Government consultation exercises in 2004. A copy of the document is in the Library.

National Offender Management Service

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role partnership between the probation service and the voluntary sector will have under the National Offender Management Service structure.

Paul Goggins: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) offers opportunities to expand voluntary sector work with offenders and develop new areas for partnership and voluntary sector involvement. Funding has been secured from the Home Office Change Up Public Sector Programme to provide training, advice and support to help the voluntary sector respond to partnership opportunities as well as prepare for contestability. A draft strategy entitled The role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in the National Offender Management Service was published on 31 January 2005, and has been sent to probation areas and voluntary and community groups for consultation.

National Offender Management Service

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how career training and professional development of staff will be conducted under the National Offender Management Service structure.

Paul Goggins: Planning has begun on the creation of a learning and development strategy for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). Working closely with Skills for Justice (the Sector Skills Council for the justice sector) and regional probation training consortia, this strategy will identify new learning programmes and qualifications needed to support the development of NOMS.
	As the offender management model is now being developed, a particular priority is to define the occupational standards and competencies needed to undertake this critical new role, and hence to develop supporting learning programmes.
	The Prison Service and National Probation Service are also developing proposals for an integrated approach to leadership and management development for managers across NOMS. An early output has been the creation of an induction and development programme for the 10 Regional Offender Managers.

National Offender Management Service

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the planned budget is for (a) the National Offender Management Service, (b) the National Probation Service local area boards, (c) the Probation Headquarters and (d) private sector prisons for each of the next three years.

Paul Goggins: The budget for the National Offender Management Service for 200506 is 4.035 billion resource and 321 million capital.
	Of this, the National Probation Service budget for 200506 is 945 million resource and 32 million capital of which 620 million resource is the main Probation Boards grant.
	Of the other 3325 million a further 173 million goes to boards and the remaining amount is centrally managed including headquarters costs and a significant amount for electronic monitoring (79 million). The budget for Probation Headquarters will be subject to revision following the current structural review.
	The provisional private sector prisons budget for 200506 is 231 million resource.
	Budgets for 200607 and 200708 have not yet been finalised.

Pieter Minnaid

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports his Department has received on the current whereabouts of Pieter Minnaid.

Paul Goggins: Inquiries are continuing and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as these are complete.

Pieter Minnaid

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a request has been made to the Netherlands Government for the extradition of Pieter Minnaid; and what steps his Department have taken to secure his return to prison in the UK.

Paul Goggins: Inquiries are continuing and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as these are complete.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables will attend the National Special Constables Weekend on 2527 February, broken down by constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Special constables are volunteers. Forces in England and Wales are inviting all their special constables to make themselves available for duty over the weekend but it is not known at this stage how many will be available for deployment.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost for the National Special Constables Weekend from 25 to 27 February is; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Special constables are volunteers who can claim allowances to cover out of pocket expenses incurred in connection with their police duties . There may be some marginal increase in the cost of allowances claimed as a result of having greater numbers of specials on duty over the weekend. These costs and the cost of organising events, marketing, advertising and so on, will be met from within existing force budgets.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are taken into account by police forces before suspending a police officer from duty.

Hazel Blears: Regulations 4 and 5 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004 define the circumstances in which an officer may be suspended. The decision to suspend officers up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent is taken by the chief officer of the force; for officers ranked higher than Chief Superintendent the decision lies with the police authority.
	Home Office guidance states that the decision to suspend should be taken only when the presence of an officer on duty may be detrimental to criminal or disciplinary investigations or proceedings, or when it is in the public interest to do so. This will normally apply only in cases where the complaint or allegation is of a serious nature likely to result in disciplinary or criminal conviction, and an officer is likely to be dismissed, required to resign or reduced in rank.

Prison Overcrowding

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons in England and Wales were considered to be overcrowded, as at 1 February.

Paul Goggins: The latest available data on overcrowding in prisons relates to the end of December 2004. The list shows prisons holding prisoners in excess of their certified normal capacity.
	Establishment
	Altcourse
	Bedford
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Blundeston
	Brinsford
	Brixton
	Buckley Hall
	Establishment
	Bullingdon
	Camp Hill
	Canterbury
	Cardiff
	Mannings Wood
	Chelmsford
	Coldingley
	Cookham Wood
	Dartmoor
	Doncaster
	Dorchester
	Dovegate
	Durham
	Eastwood Park
	Elmley
	Erlestoke
	Everthorpe
	Exeter
	Featherstone
	Forest Bank
	Garth
	Glen Parva
	Gloucester
	Guys Marsh
	Haverigg
	High Down
	Highpoint
	Holme House
	Hull
	Lancaster
	Lancaster Farms
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lewes
	Lincoln
	Littlehey
	Liverpool
	Low Newton
	Maidstone
	Manchester
	Moorland
	Mount
	New Hall
	Northallerton
	Norwich
	Nottingham
	Parc
	Parkhurst
	Pentonville
	Preston
	Ranby
	Reading
	Risley
	Rye Hill
	Shepton Mallet
	Shrewsbury
	Stafford
	Stocken
	Stoke Heath
	Styal
	Swaleside
	Swansea
	UskPrescoed
	Verne
	Wandsworth
	Wayland
	Wellingborough
	Whatton
	Winchester
	Wolds
	Woodhill
	Wormwood Scrubs
	Wymott
	In total, 81 of 138 prisons were considered to be overcrowded at the end of December 2004. No prison exceeded its operational capacity which is the total number of prisoners that can be held in an establishment without serious risk to good order, security and the proper running of planned regimes.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to establish the independent monitoring of (a) performance and (b) market testing in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Performance testing is used by the Prison Service as a means of improving the performance of underperforming public sector prisons. Market testing is a delegated responsibility of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and can be applied to all prisons, whether publicly or privately managed. Under market testing the bids made in each competition are assessed by an evaluation panel which includes independent members. Performance testing and market testing processes are liable to be the subject of regular scrutiny by Parliament, the National Audit Office, and other independent bodies and there are no plans to establish any additional independent monitoring of these processes.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend (a) performance and (b) market testing within the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There are no plans to extend performance testing wider than underperforming prisons.
	I plan to make an announcement on the market testing of prisons in due course.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the progress made by each prison under (a) performance and (b) market testing.

Paul Goggins: Those establishments that have successfully completed performance tests have delivered substantial improvements in performance and value for money. The improvements are evident across a range of indicators, including better regimes with more positive outcomes for prisoners, progression in published performance ratings and in reports from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.
	The progress of the five prisons market tested since 1999 is continuously assessed through the operation of the relevant contract or Service Level Agreement. The role of the public sector controllers in monitoring contracts with the private sector and that of the public sector monitors in monitoring Service Level Agreements with public sector prisons is central to the assessment process.

Prison Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Prison Service to be staffed to its operational staffing requirement.

Paul Goggins: Prison governors keep staffing levels under regular review. During the last two years, the public sector Prison Service has been successful in attracting new prison officer recruits. 2,420 new officers were recruited in 2003 (an increase of 50.5 per cent. on 2002), and 1,983 officers were recruited in 2004. Leaving rates are currently less than four per cent per year across the service. There are a range of reasons why vacancies may occur in individual prisons, including retirements, exits, promotions and transfers, and the time taken for the recruitment and training processes.
	It is not realistic to expect staffing levels to exactly match the operational staffing requirement at any particular time. However, at 31 January 2005, the difference between the total operational staffing availability in the public sector Prison Service (including officers working contract supplementary hours) and the operational staffing requirement for prison officers, senior officers, principal officers and operational managers was just one per cent (269 full-time equivalent officers against an operational staffing requirement of 25,704). The Director General considers this to be an acceptable operating margin.

Prisons

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure was incurred by the Prison Service in providing faith-based offending behaviour courses at Dartmoor prison in the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: There are currently no faith-based offending behaviour courses running at Dartmoor prison and hence no expenditure has been incurred.

Prisons

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners have been denied visitation rights in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: This information is not centrally collated. Prisoners have a statutory entitlement to social visits, which are managed locally at each establishment. There may be a number of reasons why a social visit does not take place. Some prisoners choose not to take advantage of their full entitlement or are unable to do so owing to factors beyond their, or the prison's control.
	Governors have the authority to prohibit or restrict visits to a prisoner, or to bar a particular visitor for such periods of time as is considered necessary in the circumstances. For example, restrictions may be placed on the prisoner or a visitor for public protection reasons, or where there is a specific threat to the security or good order of an establishment.

Prisons

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government takes to tackle (a) racism and (b) violence in prisons.

Paul Goggins: Race equality is a core standard for the Prison Service that must permeate everything that it does. The Service works hard to ensure that all aspects of current and future policy, functions and activities take full account of race equality issues and promote good race relations, adopting a zero tolerance approach of anyone who holds racist views. The Service has dismissed a number of staff for their actions and was the first public sector employer to prevent staff being members of racist organisations.
	The joint CRE/Prison Service Action Plan Implementing Race Equality in Prisons: A shared agenda for change represents a milestone for race relations in the Service. It specifically focuses on the key areas of work identified by the Commission for Racial Equality in its formal investigation, and sets out the work which the Service will undertake to meet its commitment to race equality by making race equality an integral part of all that the Service does.
	The Prison Service is currently reviewing its Race Equality Scheme for 200205, and is drawing up plans to deliver race equality in 200508.
	The Prison Service has a responsibility to keep prisoners and staff safe. A Service-wide Violence Reduction Strategy has been developed through the work of the Safer Custody Group. Prison Service Order 2,750 directs every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy.
	Each establishment is required to undertake regular analysis of the problem areas and provide an action plan to improve personal safety.
	An intranet toolkit supports the violence reduction PSO and guides establishments to develop practical solutions, including environmental and physical measures as well as alternatives for behaviour management. Specific issues such as racism, are covered with good practice examples.
	Prisons are audited against a violence reduction standard, and work towards a Key Performance Target on the rate of serious assault.

Prisons

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept of (a) violent and (b) racially motivated behaviour in prisons.

Paul Goggins: HM Prison Service keeps detailed records of all violent incidents through a national incident reporting system. All establishments must enter any violent incident on to the system. These are collated centrally. The rate of serious assault is a key performance indicator for the Violence Reduction Strategy.
	Following a review, a dedicated form for registering racist incidents is now available across the whole of the Prison Estate. This form can be completed by anyone who is a victim or a witness to an incident within the prison. The purpose of the revised form is to improve:
	The recording of racist incidents;
	Responses to individual reports in order to increase the confidence of victims in the system; and
	Monitoring, to enable prisons to improve the implementation and practice of good race relations.
	Information on racist incidents is broken down into the following categories:
	Prisoner on prisoner
	Prisoner on staff
	Staff on prisoner
	Staff on staff
	Establishments record this information locally and submit it to Headquarters on a quarterly basis.
	As well as the racist incident reporting form, the Prison Service has revised its prisoner complaints system and the Request and Complaints form now includes a tick box to indicate whether the prisoner feels the incident was racially motivated.
	The new system is supported by a central unit that holds and monitors information on all formal investigations commissioned across the Prison Service. This information includes the source, location and type of investigation, its causes, and its outcome, enabling the Service to monitor trends and identify areas of concern.

Probation Inspectorate

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expenditure of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation was in each year since 199798.

Paul Goggins: The budget of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation in these years has been:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 (202) 
			 199899 (202) 
			 19992000 1.522 
			 200001 1.530 
			 200102 1.981 
			 200203 2.749 
			 200304 3.229 
			 200405 3.352 
		
	
	(202) Information prior to 19992000 has been archived and will need some time to retrieve. I will write to the hon. Member with the information when it is available.
	The overall pattern of inspections undertaken each year has changed radically since 2000 in response to the creation of the National Probation Service (NPS) and other related developments.
	The budget figures reflect additional work that has been undertaken by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation.
	From 20012003 this included an additional programme examining accredited groupwork programmes delivered by the NPS.
	From 200304 onwards this also includes the joint inspection of Youth Offending Teams, a major new programme of inspections, led and fully resourced by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation. This programme now takes up more than 40 per cent. of the Inspectorate's deployable resources on a continuing basis.
	This additional work and other recent changes have resulted in a substantial increase in the output of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation.

Probation Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the role is of the Probation Service in England and Wales in working locally with other criminal justice agencies on public protection issues.

Paul Goggins: Working purposefully with other criminal justice agencies to protect the public from harm remains a key priority for the National Probation Service (NPS). Together with the local police and prison services, the NPS is responsible for reviewing and monitoring arrangements for assessing and managing the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders within multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA). This involves working with other criminal justice organisations, including the youth offending teams, together with local providers of health, housing, education and social services.
	Chief officers of probation sit on local criminal justice boards (LCJBs) which are responsible for the local delivery of criminal justice system (CJS) objectives, improvement in the delivery of justice, the service provided to victims and witnesses, and securing public confidence in the system. In addition, the responsible authority for each crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) is required to co-operate with local probation boards in developing and implementing strategies to tackle crime and disorder and misuse of drugs in their area.
	Working together with partners under each of these headings the NPS will continue work to improve child protection arrangements, enhance the service to victims, and develop a co-ordinated response to domestic abuse. It will also prioritise work with prolific and priority offenders to help reduce their re-offending by ensuring swift assessment, priority access to interventions, intensive supervision and prompt enforcement of any breach of licence or court order.

Probation Service

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the increase in the probation service budget will be allocated to frontline services.

Paul Goggins: The probation service budget is increasing in 200506 by 61 million. The whole of this is being allocated to front-line services.

Fire and Rescue Services (Race Relations)

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire and rescue services have (a) complied with their statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, (b) published a race equality scheme and action plan and (c) carried out race impact assessments.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not currently held centrally. However, under the requirements of the best value performance indicator (BVPI) 2B for local government, all fire and rescue authorities are in the process of providing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with information relevant to their compliance with their statutory responsibilities under the Race Relations (Amendment ) Act (RR(A)A) 2000. This information will be reported in our publication The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Best Value Performance Indicators 200304 which will be available this spring. This report will be published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and copies will be available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Additionally the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is gathering more in-depth information on the service's compliance with the requirements of the RR(A)A 2000, in particular with regard to action planning and impact assessment. The results of this exercise will be reported to the Fire and Rescue Service Practitioners' Forum in June.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sexual assault referral centres are located in or adjacent to hospitals.

Paul Goggins: There are 13 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) currently operating in England and Wales. 12 are based on single sites, with one based in two separate locations. Of the one-site SARCs, nine are located in or adjacent to hospitals. A further two are located in primary care centres. One occupies police premises in a residential area removed from any police station. The two-site SARC has one centre within a hospital, and one centre in police premises in a residential area.
	The following list shows the location of the 13 SARCs:
	
		
			  Location 
		
		
			 St. Mary's, Manchester St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester 
			 The Haven Camberwell King's College Hospital, London, SE5 
			 The Haven Paddington St. Mary's Hospital, London, W2 
			 The Haven Whitechapel The Royal London Hospital, London E1 
			 REACH Centre, Northumbria This SARC is based in two sites. One is within the Sunderland Royal Hospital, the other in a converted police house in a residential area 
			 SAFE Centre, Lancashire Royal Preston Hospital, Preston 
			 Juniper Lodge, Leicestershire Leicester General Hospital, Leicester 
			 Milne Centre, Bristol Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol 
			 Renton Clinic, Kent Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford 
			 Rowan Centre, West Midlands Within premises of Manor Hospital, Walsall 
			 The Swindon Sanctuary, Wiltshire Taw Hill Medical Practice, Swindon 
			 Cambridgeshire SARC Rivergate Primary Care Centre, Peterborough 
			 Millfield House, Derbyshire Converted police house in a residential area

Student Visa Extensions

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis is for his calculations of the cost of processing a visa extension application made by an international student studying at a British university.

Des Browne: The new fees I announced on 7 February expand the principle of full cost recovery to include the costs of providing the appeals system for leave to remain applicants, including students. We have calculated the fees using the full cost recovery formula, which has been approved by HM Treasury.
	The basic fee represents the full administration costs of delivering the decision up to and including the appeals process and outstanding deficits for providing the service. All elements have associated overhead costs.
	The 250 postal charge for student leave to remain includes recovery of appeals costs. However, the fee set for students will mean we will not recover the full administrative cost of processing student applications.

Suicides

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female suicides there have been in (i) prison and (ii) police custody in England in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The numbers requested are shown in the following tables:
	
		Table 1: Male and female self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales
		
			 Calendar year Male self-inflicted deaths Female self-inflicted deaths 
		
		
			 1997 65 3 
			 1998 81 3 
			 1999 86 5 
			 2000 73 8 
			 2001 67 6 
			 2002 86 9 
			 2003 80 14 
			 2004 82 13 
		
	
	The Prison Service employs the term self-inflicted death rather than suicide. This includes all those deaths where it appears the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life.
	
		Table 2: Male and female suicides during or following police contact in England and Wales
		
			  Female Male 
		
		
			 199798 3 31 (11) 
			 199899 1 31 (16) 
			 19992000 None 21 (7) 
			 200001 None 7 (5) 
			 200102 None 7 (3) 
			 200203 1 12 (8) 
			 200304 1 8 (4) 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures in brackets show the numbers of those (both male and female) that died in police cells. The Home Office records this information on a yearly basis; 1 April to 31 March.
	Every death that occurs in prison or following contact with the police is a tragedy and is treated with the utmost seriousness by the Government, and the Prison and Police Services. On 31 March 2004, I announced the outline suicide prevention strategy for prisons that can be summarised as, 'Reducing distress and promoting the well-being of all who live and work in prisons.' This follows extensive consultations including those with the Howard League, Prison Reform Trust, Inquest, the Youth Justice Board, Prisons and Probations Ombudsman, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Samaritans and the Department of Health.
	This builds on the three-year Safer Custody strategy that ran from April 2001, which was geared towards making progress in resettlement, detoxification, health, and purposeful activity, as well as staff outlooks, leadership and training. Key achievements were the placement of Suicide Prevention Co-ordinators (or equivalents) operating in all prisons, an investment of over 21 million at six 'Safer Local' pilot sites, and the development of safer prison design, including 'safer cells.'
	Police forces are also working hard to ensure that all possible measures are in place to minimise the risks relating to suicide and self-harm. The care, assessment and monitoring of detainees are a top priority, custody facilities have been made safer and training and CCTV monitoring has been improved.
	The Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) have set up a Project Group to develop and disseminate policy and best practice on the safer handling of detainees in order to prevent deaths in custody. The Project Group hopes to publish this guidance in January 2006, following consultation with practitioners within the CJS and health/medical disciples.

Tackling Intruders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been charged in connection with people tackling intruders in (a) residential properties and (b) retail properties in each year since 1990;
	(2)  how many people have been convicted of an offence in connection with people tackling intruders in (a) residential properties and (b) retail properties in each year since 1990.

Paul Goggins: It is not possible to identify those persons prosecuted or convicted for offences arising out of the intruders entering their property, as the circumstances surrounding an offence are not centrally collected on the Home Office Court Proceedings database. However the Director of Public Prosecutions would look for clear evidence of very excessive force before considering a prosecution.

Women Remand Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of women remand prisoners did not receive a custodial sentence in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The table gives the estimated percentages of women remand prisoners who were not given a custodial sentence in each of the last five years.
	
		Percentage of women remanded in custody who did not receive a custodial sentence 19992003, England and Wales
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1999 64 
			 2000 62 
			 2001 57 
			 2002 58 
			 2003 59

Work Permits

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken in the last 12 months to grant further leave to remain status to a work permit extension that has already been approved is.

Des Browne: The information requested is not specifically identifiable on the database used to record Leave to Remain decisions.

Work Permits

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken in the last 12 months to grant approval to a work permit extension application is.

Des Browne: The average time taken to grant an approval for a work permit extension was four working days during the calendar year 2004.
	This is the time taken from receipt of the work permit application in Work Permits (UK) to dispatch of a decision.

Yukos

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government of the Russian Federation has made representations to the UK Government regarding Yukos employees or executives currently residing in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The UK Government have received no representations from the Government of the Russian Federation regarding Yukos employees or executives currently residing in the UK.